THE  NATIONAL  COUNCIL 
OF  CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCHES  OF  THE 
UNITED    STATES.sr  .v 


BX7I07 
.MH7 


J. 6. 1 


^>^  PRINCETON,  N.  J.  ^ftt 


Purchased   by  the 
Mrs.    Robert   Lenox   Kennedy   Church   History   Fund. 


Divisi 
Section 


...Ml/Q  7 
.A±H2 


REV.   ALONZO    H.    QUINT,    D.  D. 
Born  1 828  —  Died  1S96 


m  NATIONAL  COUNCIL 
OF  CONGREGATIONAL 
CHURCHES  OF  THE 
UNITED  STATES   ^  ^  ^ 


By  Rev.  E.   LYMAN   HOOD,  M.  A.,  Ph.  D., 

Member  American  Historical  Association 


BOSTON 

Ubc  pilgrim  press 

CHICAGO 


Press  of  J.  J.  Arakelj-an 

295  Congress  St. 

Boston 


PREFACE 

In  the  memorable  trip  over  sea  in  July,  1891,  on  the  fated  "City 
of  Chicago,"  which  bore  the  delegates  of  America  to  the  First 
International  Council  in  London,  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  oc- 
cupy a  stateroom  with  Rev.  Alonzo  H.  Quint.  This  privilege 
gave  much  time  for  happy  converse,  which  was  especially  valu- 
ble  to  me,  a  young  man.  The  polity  of  the  Congregational 
Churches  was  our  favorite  theme.  And  with  the  great  meeting, 
to  which'  we  both  journeyed  as  delegates,  before  us,  it  was  nat- 
ural that  the  Council,  its  history  and  function,  should  have  been 
uppermost  in  our  minds.  One  day,  he  turned  and  said  in  his 
emphatic  way,  "You  should  write  a  history  of  the  National 
Council."  My  work  as  Missionary  Superintendent  for  several 
years  in  the  West  had  indeed  kept  the  polity  of  the  churches  ever 
before  me.  The  genial  doctor's  request  was  not  forgotten.  With 
each  recurring  session  since,  articles  have  been  prepared  by  re- 
quest for  our  acknowledged  denominational  journals,  which  have 
received  far  greater  commendation  than  their  merit  deserved.  At 
the  last  session,  a  pamphlet  was  prepared;  and,  though  a  con- 
siderable edition  was  printed,  it  was  immediately  exhausted.  Re- 
quests came  from  men  whose  judgment  commands  respect,  in 
different  parts  of  the  country,  that  the  treatise  be  amplified.  The 
present  monograph  is  the  result. 

It  has  been  my  purpose  to  tell  the  history  of  the  Council  as 
much  as  possible  in  the  language  of  its  own  decisions  and  acts. 
To  tell  the  story  as  simply  as  possible  and  to  seek  the  interpreta- 
tion of  its  function  in  the  abiding  principles  of  our  polity,  which 


4  PREFACE 

have  governed  our  churches  from  the  beginning,  has  been  the 
constant  aim.  To  each  session  go  up  delegates  not  present  in 
former  Councils,  anxious,  withal,  to  enter  intelligently  by  sym- 
pathetic knowledge  into  the  work  of  the  assembly.  This  class, 
especially,  has  been  borne  continually  in  mind. 

With  the  growing  expansion  of  the  nation  and  the  multiplica- 
tion of  our  churches,  there  is  more  and  more  manifest  an  earnest 
desire  for  fellowship.  The  proverbial  "rope  of  sand"  polity  will 
no  longer  endure  the  strain  put  upon  it  by  a  faith  which  reaches 
from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  even  to  the  islands  of  the  sea.  Centrip- 
etal forces  are  in  the  air.  Centralization  prevails  everywhere. 
The  churches  have  learned  by  experience  that  there  is  strength  in 
union.  The  Council  came  at  a  critical  time  and  fulfilled  expec- 
tations. It  has  been  accepted  as  the  logical  and  necessary  out- 
come. In  it  the  churches  have  found  a  bond  of  privilege  and 
blessing.  Already  it  has  vindicated  its  right  to  be,  and  has  prac- 
tically overcome  all  hostile  criticism.  From  its  inception,  thirty 
years  ago,  the  Council  has  steadily  grown  in  the  favor  and  con- 
fidence of  the  churches;  and  it  now  seems  probable  that  this 
growth  will  continue.  If  so,  the  Council  is  destined  to  exert  an 
ever  increasing  influence. 

It  remains  for  me  to  express  my  sense  of  gratitude  to  those 
of  my  older,  more  experienced  brethren.  East  and  West,  who 
have  encouraged  me  in  the  undertaking,  and  who  have  kindly 
assisted  me  by  giving  invaluable  data  and  counsel.  Espe- 
cially must  I  mention  Prof.  Addison  Van  Name,  who,  as  Libra- 
rian of  Yale  University,  is  custodian  of  the  priceless  library  of 
the  Rev.  H.  M.  Dexter;  also  Rev.  W.  H.  Cobb,  Librarian  of  the 
Congregational  Library,  Boston,  both  of  whom  lent  their  assist- 
ance. 


THE  "NEWTOWN"  SYNOD 

The    First   General   Convention   of  the   Congregational   Churches  of 

America.  Held  in   Newtown,   Colony  Massachusetts, 

August    30  —  September   22,    1637. 

Moderators,  REV.  PETER   BULKELEY, 
REV.  THOMAS  HOOKER. 


THE  '« NEWTOWN"  SYNOD 

"A  synode  is  a  joyning  or  partaking  of  the  authorite  of 
manie  churches  matte  togither  in  peace,  for  redresse  and 
deciding  of  matters,  which  cannot  well  be  otherwise 
taken  up,"  is  the  unique  definition  of  a  council,  in  the 
first  book  published  in  the  interests  of  Congregational- 
ism. This  volume,  with  its  long  title,  so  characteristic  of 
the  age  in  which  it  was  written — "A  Booke  which  Shew- 
eth  the  Life  and  Manners  of  all  True  Christians,  and  how 
unlike  they  are  unto  Turkes  and  Papists,  and  Heathen 
Folke"  was  written  in  1582  by  the  founder  of  our  faith 
and  practice,  Robert  Browne,  while  an  exile  in  Holland. 
This  little  book  of  one  hundred  pages  gives  in  substance 
the  present  doctrine  held  by  the  members  of  the  Pilgrim 
churches. 

Two  years  later,  in  another  tract,  he  wrote,  "Further- 
more thei  particularlie  agreed  off  the  manner  ....  for 
seeking  to  other  churches  to  have  their  helpe,  being  bet- 
ter informed,  or  to  bring  them  to  reformation."  In 
these  two  declarations  we  find  the  two  great  principles 
upon  which  the  Congregational  denomination  rests. 
Modifications  many  and  radical  were  to  be  made  from 
time  to  time;  but  there  has  always  been  a  return  to  the 
primitive  faith  and  practice.  The  complete  independ- 
ency and  sovereignty  of  the  local,  single  church,  and, 


8  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

secondly,  the  fellowship  of  the  several  churches  as  mani- 
fested in  conference,  having  no  authority  over  the  con- 
stituent elements,  Congregationalists  believe  to  be  the 
pattern  given  in  the  Scriptures. 

The  familiar  history  of  early  Independency  in  Eng- 
land, with  all  its  vicissitudes,  need  not  here  be  repeated. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  the  Pilgrims  longed  to  leave  Holland 
and  migrate  to  Virginia,  a  colony  of  the  Crown.  And, 
in  order  that  they  might  obtain  the  necessary  permission 
and  charter,  two  of  their  number.  Deacon  John  Carver 
and  Robert  Cushman,  bore  to  London  what  are  termed 
the  "Seven  Articles"  of  their  faith  and  practice.  The 
sixth  refers  to  the  polity  of  their  struggling  churches, 
then  only  four  in  number.  "Wee  beleeve  y  no  sinod, 
classes,  convocation  or  assembly  of  Ecclesiasticall  Offi- 
cers hath  any  power  or  awthoryty  att  all  but  as  ye  same 
by  ye  Magestraet  geven  unto  them."  These  articles 
were  written  by  John  Robinson,  the  pastor,  and  VVillyam 
Bruster,  the  ruling  elder,  of  the  Church  in  Leyden.  The 
prejudices  of  the  King  and  his  counselors  were  not  en- 
tirely overcome  by  this  confession  of  their  simple  faith 
in  Christ  and  willing  submission  to  the  King's  authority. 
An  ambiguous  promise  that  they  could  go  to  Virginia, 
and  would  not  be  molested  so  long  as  they  obeyed  the 
laws,  was  all  they  were  able  to  obtain.  With  this,  how- 
ever, they  prepared  to  cross  the  stormy  sea.  Obstacles 
seemed  to  rise  against  them.  Former  friends  proved 
false.  Financial  plans  almost  innumerable  failed.  At 
last,  less  than  half  the  Leyden  Church  sailed  in  July, 


THE    NEWTOWN    SYNOD  9 

1620,  for  England,  where  many  and  vexatious  hin- 
drances almost  discouraged  the  strong-hearted  among 
them. 

After  two  unsuccessful  attempts  to  sail,  the  brave  rem- 
nant of  the  original  band  finally  embarked  on  one  ship. 
Upon  sighting  land,  before  leaving  the  vessel,  they  en- 
tered into  a  Compact.  The  church  members  were  al- 
ready bound  by  a  strict  mutual  covenant.  This  compact 
was  a  civil,  not  a  religious  instrument;  and  yet  it  was  in 
full  accord  with  the  spirit  of  the  faith  of  the  Pilgrims. 
Nine  years  later,  when  the  first  Puritan  church  was  or- 
ganized in  America,  we  are  not  surprised  that  it  was  in 
entire  agreement  with  the  principles  of  faith  and  polity 
cherished  and  upheld  by  the  Independents.  The  follow- 
ing is  their  covenant :  "We  covenant  with  the  Lord 
and  one  with  another,  and  doe  bynd  ourselves 
in  the  presence  of  God,  to  walke  together  in  all 
His  waies,  according  as  He  is  pleased  to  reveale 
Himself  unto  us  in  His  blessed  Word  of  Truth."  Not 
content  with  this,  they  entered  into  a  much  more  ex- 
plicit covenant  seven  years  afterwards.  The  sixth  article 
of  this  confession  is  a  positive  ratification  of  the  principle 
of  fellowship.  "Wee  bynd  our  selves  to  studdy  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  Gospell  in  all  truth  and  peace,  both  in 
regard  to  those  that  are  within,  or  without,  noe  way 
sleighting  our  sister  churches,  but  useing  theire  counsel! 
as  need  shall  be." 

The  Pilgrims,  who  were  Separatists,  led  the  way  to 
America.     Those  who  followed  from  England  in  much 


10  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

larger  numbers  were  Puritans,  who  had  no  intention  of 
leaving  the  Church  of  England.  Doctrinally,  they  were 
all  stanch  Calvinists;  but  in  polity  they  were  very  far 
apart.  A  very  considerable  element  craved  greater  free- 
dom in  both  Colony  and  Church  than  they  had  found  in 
Massachusetts.  These  ambitious  spirits  found  full  ex- 
ercise for  their  powers,  in  1638,  in  the  exodus  from  the 
Bay  to  Connecticut.  Thus  fully  one  fourth  left  the  origi- 
nal settlements  to  found  a  new  State  in  the  wilderness. 
The  new  colony  acted  as  a  safety-valve.  Possibly  grave 
issues  were  avoided  by  the  emigration  westward.  The 
exceedingly  erratic,  though  able,  Roger  Williams 
aroused  intense  feeling.  So  threatening  had  become  the 
antagonism  to  his  indiscriminate  condemnation  of  the 
churches  and  their  toiling  pastors,  something  had  to  be 
done.  As  he  had  not  heeded  a  timely  warning,  the  mag- 
istrates met  on  October  9,  1635,  and  the  court  passed 
the  following  sentence:  "Whereas,  Mr.  Roger  Williams 
....  hath  broached  and  dyvulged  dyvers  newe  and 
dangerous  opinions,  against  the  aucthoritie  of  magis- 
trates, as  also  writt  letteres  of  defamation,  both  of  the 
magistrates  and  churches  here,  and  that  before  any  con- 
viccon,  and  yet  mainetaineth  the  same  without  retrac- 
con,  it  is  therefore  ordered,  that  the  said  Mr.  Williams 
shall  dep'te  out  of  this  jurisdiccon  within  sixe  weekes 
nowe  nexte  ensueing."  He  went  to  Rhode  Island  and 
formed  the  Baptist  Church,  but  long  before  his  death 
renounced  it  and  all  communion  with  the  churches. 
Thus  ended  the  life  of  a  man  described  by  Prof.  G.  P. 


THE    NEWTOWN    SYNOD  ii 

Fisher  as  "restless,  contentious,  and  precipitate  in  judg- 
n^nt  and  action." 

To  this  banishment  of  Williams  we  may  trace  influ- 
ences which  have  left  their  mark  to  this  day  upon  Ameri- 
can Congregationalism.  Claiming  that  he  was  persecuted 
unrighteously,  Williams  appealed  to  all  the  churches. 
In  the  face  of  a  common  danger,  the  churches  were 
quick  to  seek  fellowship.  Mutual  responsibility  and  help 
alone  could  cure  the  growing  evil.  This  sentiment  re- 
sulted in  the  passing  of  a  law  by  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  in  March,  1636,  that  no  association  of 
men  should  be  a  church  "without  they  shall  first  ac- 
quainte  the  magistrates,  and  the  elders  of  the  greater 
p'te  of  the  churches  in  this  jurisdiccon,  with  their  inten- 
cons,  and  have  their  approbacon  herein."  Thus,  by  law, 
what  was  essentially  a  council,  composed  of  church 
members,  was  necessary  in  the  organization  of  any 
church.  This  escape  out  of  a  dilemma  was  never  forgot- 
ten. A  crisis  had  been  successfully  met  and  safely  passed. 
To  the  people  of  the  Colony  the  enactment  commended 
itself,  and  it  remained  no  dead  letter  upon  the  statute- 
book.  Within  a  month,  the  Dorchester  people  pe- 
titioned for  the  prescribed  approval. 

A  year  before  the  above  action  was  taken  by  the  Court, 
a  family  had  arrived  from  England,  by  the  name  of 
Hutchinson.  The  husband  and  father,  William,  Win- 
throp  has  described  as  "a  man  of  very  mild  temper  and 
weak  parts,  wholly  guided  by  his  wife."  She  was  a  wom- 
an of  very  superior  talents,  of  engaging  personality  and 


12 


THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 


superabundant  ambition.  She  was  warm-hearted,  gen- 
erous and  impulsive.  Skilful  in  nursing,  she  ministered 
freely  to  the  sick.  A  former  parishioner  of  the  Rev.  John 
Cotton  at  St.  Botolph's  in  Boston,  England,  she  con- 
tinued his  ardent  admirer.  Religion  was  the  one  theme 
of  supreme  interest,  and,  undoubtedly  with  the  best  in- 
tentions, she  invited  the  women  regularly  twice  a  week 
to  her  home.  The  gatherings  grew  in  numbers  and  in- 
fluence. The  doctrines  and  work  of  the  churches  were 
more  and  more  freely  criticized.  Leading  men  there 
were  who  encouraged  her;  but  all,  high  and  low,  came 
to  fear  her  tongue.  She  had  great  antipathy  to  higher 
education  and  declared  the  ministers  of  the  Colony  were 
wandering  from  the  true  faith,  "preaching  a  covenant  of 
works  instead  of  a  covenant  of  grace."  Finally,  she 
openly  claimed  the  Holy  Spirit  was  revealing  to  her  the 
onlv  true  faith.  Gov.  Henry  Vane,  and  others  high 
in  the  Colony  and  Church,  were  her  earnest  supporters. 
Her  following,  however,  was  almost  entirely  in  Boston, 
where  a  minister  branded  as  "antichrists"  all  who  did  not 
accept  her  views.  It  was  far  more  than  a  tempest  in  a 
teapot.  Excitement  and  feeling  ran  so  high  that  the  civil 
magistrates  became, thoroughly  alarmed.  January  19, 
1637,  was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  be- 
cause of  the  dissensions.  Meetings  of  pastors  had  be- 
fore been  repeatedly  held  in  the  hope  of  allaying  the 
strife.  In  the  following  spring,  this  unfortunate  theolog- 
ical controversy  was  the  chief  issue  of  the  campaign, 
which  resulted  in  the  defeat  for  reelection  of  Vane,  the 
Hutchinsonian  candidate. 


THE    NEWTOWN    SYNOD  13 

The  defeat  of  "the  covenanters  of  grace"  embittered 
them.  Something-  had  to  be  done,  and  done  at  once; 
the  Colony  and  the  churches  were  drifting  upon  the 
rocks.  The  pastors  of  the  churches  not  in  Boston,  re- 
mem.bering  the  beneficial  results  of  conferences  between 
the  magistrates  and  the  ministers,  now  petitioned  the 
Court  to  call  a  "synod"  constituted  of  "all  the  teaching 
elders  through  the  country"  and  of  "messengers  from  the 
churches."  That  it  might  be  thoroughly  representative, 
"sundry  elders  were  sent  for  from  other  jurisdictions." 
In  the  meantime,  Vane  had  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
sailed  for  England,  and  the  active,  influential  head  of  the 
"reformers"  had  no  successor. 

August  30,  1637,  in  a  small  frame  meeting-house  in 
Newtown  (now  Cambridge),  there  gathered  at  the  call 
of  the  Court  the  first  general  conference  of  the  Congre- 
gational churches  in  America.  Rev.  Peter  Bulkeley  of 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  of 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  were  elected  moderators.  John 
Higginson  was  the  choice  of  the  body  for  scribe.  The 
personnel  of  the  synod  carried  great  weight  with  the 
public.  During  the  twenty-four  days  of  the  session, 
nearly  all  the  pastors  of  New  England  were  in  attend- 
ance, and  an  equal  number  of  influential  laymen.  "Some 
men  new  come  out  of  England,  not  yet  called  to  any 
place  here,"  were  also  invited  to  sit  in  the  synod. 

The  debates  were  exceedingly  earnest,  for  the  Hutch- 
insonian  party  was  ably  represented  in  the  persons  of 
the  Boston  delegates,  who  finally  protested,  claiming  no 


14  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

jurisdiction  for  the  synod,  and  a  few  of  them  left  the  as- 
sembly, not  to  return.  Upon  Rev.  John  Cotton,  the  es- 
teemed pastor  of  Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson,  the  odium  did 
not  lightly  fall.  "Solemn  speeches  were  made  with 
tears,"  says  Cotton  Mather,  "lamenting  that  they  should 
in  this  important  matter  dissent  from  a  person  so  vener- 
able and  considerable  in  the  country."  As  the  synod 
proceeded,  greater  unanimity  was  manifest,  until,  at  the 
last,  the  result  was  obtained  with  few  dissenting  voices. 
Rev.  John  Cotton  did  not  sign  the  declarations,  but  he 
tacitly  accepted  them.  The  doctrines  declared  false  and 
injurious  were  Antinomian  and  recalled  the  abuses  of  the 
Anabaptists,  the  radicals  of  the  German  Reformation. 
The  Hutchinsonian  doctrine  of  perfection  was  also  very 
similar  in  its  spirit  to  those  of  the  Familists  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  led  by  David  George,  who  claimed  to  be 
a  second  David.  Anne  Hutchinson  taught  that  "The 
resurrection  is  not  of  the  body,  but  is  the  rising  of  the 
soul  to  a  new  spiritual  life,  through  its  union  to  Christ, 
and  that  it  takes  place,  therefore,  at  conversion."  Per- 
fect holiness  was  another  tenet  of  the  faith  of  this  Boston 
School,  and  to  support  it  they  used  the  Scriptures  freely. 
It  was  evident  to  the  members  of  the  synod  that  Mrs. 
Hutchinson  was  the  soul  of  the  movement.  In  a  sen- 
tence, she  is  portrayed  by  Leonard  Woolsey  Bacon  in 
his  admirable  "History  of  American  Christianity"  as  "a 
clever  woman,  with  a  vast  conceit  of  her  superior  holi- 
ness, and  with  the  ugly  censoriousness  which  is  a  usual 
accompaniment  of  that  grace,  demonstrating  her  genius 


THE    NEWTOWN    SYNOD  15 

for    mixing    a    theological    controversy    with    personal 
jealousies  and  public  anxieties." 

The  Council  found  as  much  trouble  in  stating  the 
heresies  placed  under  the  ban,  as  it  did  in  declaring  their 
condemnation.  "Eighty-two  erroneous  opinions  and 
nine  unwholesome  expressions"  were  denounced.  Pas- 
sages of  the  Scriptures,  which  had  been  perverted  in  in- 
terpretation, were  cited,  and  their  true  meaning  stated. 
It  was  also  declared  that  disputes  in  and  around  the 
church  edifice  after  services  "by  private  members"  were 
unjustifiable.  Church  members  who  did  not  respond 
and  obey  the  summons  of  the  Church  might  be  pro- 
ceeded against  though  absent.  Finally,  members  who 
did  not  agree  with  their  own  churches  in  matters  of  doc- 
trine should  not  be  granted  letters  of  dismission  to  other 
churches.  Meetings  solely  for  women,  addressed  by 
women  on  doctrinal  matters,  were  declared  to  be  unwise 
and  inexpedient. 

The  Colonial  officials  were  as  much  pleased  with  the 
outcome  of  the  synod  as  the  members  of  the  churches. 
It  had  brought  peace  and  quietness  to  distracted  com- 
munities. The  government  paid  all  the  expenses  of  the 
synod,  including  board  and  traveling.  Governor  Win- 
throp  proposed  that  the  synod  convene  annually.  This 
was  favored  by  some  of  the  ministers;  but,  for  reasons 
unknown  to  us,  it  was  never  acted  upon.  It  would  have 
been  a  long  step  indeed  toward  Presbyterianism.  An- 
other suggestion  also  made  was,  that  the  synod  express 
its  desires  as  to  the  best  methods  for  providing  regular 


i6  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

stipends  for  the  clergy.  This,  also,  received  no  favorable 
action,  "lest  it  should  be  said  that  this  assembly  was 
gathered  for  their  private  advantage." 

Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  council,  a  few  seemed  de- 
termined to  continue  the  undesirable  controversy.  And 
the  Court  in  the  following  month,  after  trial,  banished 
Mrs.  Anne  Hutchinson  and  her  relative,  the  Rev.  John 
Wheelwright.  He  went  to  the  frontier  in  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  she,  with  her  family  and  a  score  of  sympathizers,  to 
Rhode  Island.  Five  years  from  the  time  of  banishment, 
having  gone  to  the  Dutch  settlement  on  Manhattan  Is- 
land, she  and  her  family  were  murdered  by  the  Mohawk- 
Indians,  where  New  York  city  now  stands.  Uncon- 
sciously, she  had  called  into  practice  a  principle,  that  of 
fellowship,  which  was  to  be  a  corner-stone  in  the  build- 
ing up  of  a  great  church. 


THE  "CAMBRIDGE"  SYNOD 

The  Second   General   Council   of  the    Congregational    Churches  in 

America,    Held    in    Cambridge,    Massachusetts, 

September  1,  1646  — August  25,  1648. 

Moderators, 

Preachers,  REV.  EZEKIEL   ROGERS, 
REV.  JOHN   ALLIN. 


THE  "CAMBRIDGE"  SYNOD 

Robert  Browne,  the  protagonist  of  modern  Congre- 
gationalism, recognized  fully  the  principle  of  church  fel- 
lowship, "that  since  all  local  churches  belong  to  the  one 
family  of  the  Lord,  they  necessarily  owe  to  each  other 
sisterly  affection  and  activity."  This  eminently  demo- 
cratic and  yet  helpful  spirit  of  the  one  church  to  the 
other  sufTered  for  a  time  an  eclipse.  Barrowe  inculcated 
very  decided  Presbyterian  tendencies.  But  these  Bar- 
rowist  churches  did  not  increase  rapidly.  Dexter  has 
told  us,  "When  the  Mayflower  sailed,  in  all  probability, 
there  could  not  have  been  in  existence  more  than  three 
Barrowist  churches  besides  that  at  Leyden."  Henry 
Jacob,  a  noble  soul,  had  gone  out  of  the  Established 
Church,  and  eventually,  had  organized  in  Southwark, 
London,  in  1616,  the  strictly  people's  church  which  is 
now  the  mother  church  of  the  thousands  bearing  the 
name  Congregational  in  the  British  Isles.  At  the 
time,  1637,  o^  ^^^  fi^'st  general  synod  in  the  Colonies, 
the  leaven  of  this  Southwark  organization  was  working, 
but  not  many  others  of  the  same  ecclesiastical  polity 
had  as  yet  been  formed. 

For  a  time  after  the  sailing  of  the  Plymouth  Pilgrims, 
social  and  political  conditions  in  England  impelled  large 
emigration  to  America.    The  Puritans,  however,  rather 


20  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

than  the  Pilgrims  were  in  the  majority.  Thus,  in  doc- 
trine, the  eariy  settlers  were  united.  They  were  all  Cal- 
vinists.  But  in  their  views  as  to  the  true  polity  of  the 
church,  they  differed  widely  among  themselves.  Con- 
sequently, there  was  an  earnest  desire  to  bring  about 
harmony,  not  so  much  in  faith,  for  as  to  that  they  were 
agreed,  but  in  the  proper  forms  of  organization  for  the 
churches.  The  "covenants"  adopted  in  this  period,  by 
the  several  churches,  throw  much  light  upon  these  efforts 
to  insure  harmony.  They  were  not  unmindful  of  the  duty 
they  owed  one  to  the  other  in  each  church,  as  the  cove- 
nant of  the  Salem  people  proves :  "Wee  promise  to 
walke  with  our  brethren  and  sisters  in  this  Congrega- 
tion with  all  watchfullness  and  tenderness,  avoyding  all 
jelousies,  suspitions,  backbyteings,  censurings,  provoak- 
ings,  secret  risings  of  spirite  against  them."  With 
equal  ardor  they  sought  fellowship  among  the  several 
churches.  The  members  of  these  churches  had  left  the 
mother  country  more  as  Nonconformists  than  Separa- 
tists, and  they  remembered  the  strength  of  the  Estab- 
lishment in  spite  of  the  many  evils  of  a  State  Church. 

When  the  early  churches  came  to  be  organized  in 
America,  however,  the  Pilgrim  church  at  Plymouth  was 
the  pattern  generally  adopted.  The  Colonists  tried 
to  conserve  the  many  commendable  features  of  the 
churches  from  which  they  had  come,  and  yet  make  sure 
of  the  liberty  which  they  craved.  We  have  seen  that 
tlie  pure  Congregational  type  was  not  making  much 
headway  just  at  this  time  in  England.     Whatever  this 


THE    CAMBRIDGE    SYNOD  21 

polity  might  be  in  theory,  it  did  not  oflfer  success  in 
practice.  Presbyterianism,  in  other  words,  promised  to 
gather  to  itself  all  protesting  elements.  Leaders  in 
Great  Britain,  conscious  of  the  trend  among  themselves, 
looked  with  amazement  and  evident  concern  upon  the 
opposing  tendencies  which  prevailed  in  America.  In 
1636,  this  unrest  had  found  expression  in  "A  Letter  of 
Many  Ministers  in  Old  England,  requesting  the  Judg- 
ment of  their  reverend  Brethren  in  New  England  con- 
cerning Nine  Positions."  These  inquiries  all  referred 
to  church  polity  and  forms  of  worship.  In  due  time, 
at  the  request  of  the  ministers  of  the  Colonies  and  in 
their  behalf.  Rev.  John  Davenport,  pastor  in  New 
Haven,  answered  their  inquiries  very  fully.  No  doubt, 
to  a  degree  he  disarmed  their  criticism  and  allayed  their 
fears.  But  the  answer  called  forth  a  rejoinder  from  the 
English  brethren  in  1640,  written  by  one  Rev.  John 
Ball.  A  reply  was  also  made  to  this  by  two  of  the  min- 
isters of  New  England. 

About  the  time  the  "Nine  Positions"  were  forwarded 
to  the  colonists  by  the  Puritans  of  Old  England,  an- 
other much  longer  and  more  comprehensive  treatise  was 
sent,  entitled,  "Thirty-two  Questions,"  dealing  with  al- 
most every  phase  of  faith  and  practice.  A  learned  and 
exhaustive  reply  was  returned  to  England,  written  by 
Rev.  Richard  Mather.  In  1843,  together  with  writings  of 
similar  character,  it  was  printed  in  London.  This  was  the 
date  of  the  calling  of  the  Westminster  Assembly,  without 
the    approval    of   the   King,    Charles  L    The  infamous 


22  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

regime  of  William  Laud,  the  King's  favorite,  embittered 
many  against  the  crown.  The  Scotch  had  arisen  in  the 
"Solemn  League  and  Covenant"  to  protect  their  cher- 
ished faith.  The  Star  Chamber  and  its  darksome  deeds 
were  renounced.  In  July  of  the  preceding  year,  1642, 
Parliament  had  appointed  the  Committee  on  Public 
Safety  and  called  out  the  militia.  Soon  the  entire  coun- 
try was  ablaze  with  civil  war.  The  next  step.  Parlia- 
ment united  with  the  Scots  in  the  League  and  Cove- 
nant, and  uniformity  in  religion  was  established  in  Eng- 
land, Ireland  and  Scotland.  But  it  was  the  Presbyte- 
rian form  which  was  thus  established  by  law.  Two 
thousand  Episcopalian  rectors,  who  refused  to  subscribe, 
were  deprived  of  their  livings  or  pastorates.  Parliament 
did  not  give  up  its  control  of  the  churches  of  the  land, 
though  a  system  had  been  entrenched  which  recognized 
no  bishop.  At  no  time  since  the  first  coming  of  the  Pil- 
grims to  America  were  the  issues  of  the  churches  on 
this  side  of  the  sea  so  wrapped  up  in  the  destiny  of  those 
in  the  old  country.  It  is  simply  impossible  to  intelli- 
gently comprehend  the  trend  of  events  in  the  colonies 
at  this  period  without  following  the  course  of  history 
in  England. 

The  Roundheads,  or  Puritans,  continued  to  gain  in 
the  war  with  the  King.  The  Independents,  under  the 
leadership  of  that  sagacious  genius,  Oliver  Cromwell, 
were  soon  in  control  of  the  army,  and  at  Marston  Moor 
in  a  pitched  battle  in  1644,  the  Royalists  were  routed. 
In  1646,  Charles  surrendered;  the  following  year,  the 


THE    CAMBRIDGE    SYNOD  23 

army  took  the  King  into  custody.  Subsequently  he  was 
tried,  condemned,  and  beheaded  January  30,  1649.  Eng- 
land was  a  free  Commonwealth  governed  by  the  House 
of  Commons.  Independency  had  triumphed  over  all  her 
enemies.  But  just  what  form  this  was  to  take  in  the 
churches,  and  what  the  ecclesiastical  influence  was  to 
be  upon  the  American  colonies,  was  yet  to  be  deter- 
mined. 

In  the  church  in  Newbury,  Massachusetts,  where 
Thomas  Parker  and  James  Noyes  were  respectively  pas- 
tor and  teacher,  serious  trouble  arose  because  their  spirit- 
ual guides  determined  to  assume  more  power  than  the 
members  felt  was  just  or  right  in  a  Congregational 
church.  Remembering  the  beneficial  results  of  consulta- 
tion in  the  past  few  years  in  the  Colony,  a  conference  of 
the  ministers  was  called  to  meet  in  Newtown,  or  Cam- 
bridge. How  it  was  called,  or  by  whom,  we  do  not  know. 
But  on  September  4,  1643,  about  fifty  of  the  pastors 
gathered  in  the  recently  erected  college  building.  The 
conference  was  not  of  a  synodical  character,  in  that  the 
lay  element  was  in  no  wise  represented.  Rev.  John  Cot- 
ton and  Rev.  Thomas  Hooker  were  elected  moderators. 
No  official  deliverance  was  made  known,  but  certain 
resolutions  were  adopted  expressing  the  conviction  that 
in  the  business  meetings  of  the  local  church,  the  votes  of 
the  laity  were  essential  in  admitting  or  excluding  mem- 
bers ;  that  stated  conferences  were  necessary.  Or,  as  it  was 
defined  by  an  eye-witness  and  probable  participant, 
"That  consociation  of  churches,  in  way  of  more  general 


24  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

meetings,  yearly;  and  more  privately,  monthly  or  quar- 
terly ;  as  consultative  synods ;  are  very  comfortable  and 
necessary  for  the  peace  and  good  of  the  churches." 
The  deliberations  of  this  informal  conference  were  com- 
municated to  the  distracted  Newbury  church  ;  but,  unfor- 
tunately, with  no  apparent  results.  The  trouble  con- 
tinued as  before. 

Nor  was  the  unrest  confined  to  the  one  church  in 
Newbury.  All  the  churches  in  the  colonies  were  more 
or  less  disturbed  by  the  disquieting  influences  con- 
stantly emanating  from  Old  England.  Something  had 
to  be  done.  Twenty-two  months  after  the  above  min- 
isterial conference  was  held,  another  convened  at  the 
same  place  as  before.  Nearly  all  the  ministers  of  the 
colonies  were  present.  At  their  request,  Rev.  Thomas 
Hooker  of  Hartford  had  prepared  for  approval  "A  Sur- 
vey of  the  Summe  of  Church  Discipline."  It  deals  en- 
tirely with  polity :  "The  church  is  totum  essentiale,  is,  and 
may  be  before  officers.  There  is  no  presbyteriall  church 
(i.e.  a  church  made  up  of  the  elders  of  many  congrega- 
tions appointed  classickwise,  to  rule  all  those  congrega- 
tions) in  the  New  Testament.  Consociation  of  churches 
should  be  used,  as  occasion  doth  require.  Such  con- 
sociations and  synods  have  allowance  to  counsell  and 
admonish  other  churches,  as  the  case  may  require.  And 
if  they  grow  obstinate  in  errour  or  sinfull  miscarriages, 
they  should  renounce  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  with 
them.  But  they  have  no  power  to  excommunicate. 
Nor  do  their  constitutions  binde  formaliter  and  juridice." 


THE    CAMBRIDGE    SYNOD  25 

At  the  time  of  which  we  now  write  (the  close  of  the 
second  quarter  of  the  seventeenth  century)  the  popula- 
tion of  the  Massacht^etts  Colony  was  fifteen  thousand. 
But  only  1708  had  become  citizens.  Some  of  those  who 
had  not  been  able  to  comply  fully  with  the  prescribed 
provisions  in  order  to  obtain  the  rights  of  suffrage  were 
among  the  influential  men  of  the  Bay  region.  Appeals 
were  sent  by  such  to  the  authorities  in  England  seek- 
ing redress.  If  citizenship  was  to  depend  upon  member- 
ship in  the  church,  and  membership  in  the  church  was 
to  be  conditioned  by  the  polity  of  the  church,  and  the 
standing  of  the  church  was  to  be  defined  in  part  by  its 
'  relation  to  other  churches,  it  was  evident  that  these 
various  questions  should  be  authoritatively  settled  at 
once.  Prof.  Walker,  in  speaking  of  the  period  and  its 
problems,  says,  "There  was  no  standard  by  which  the 
relations  of  one  church  to  another  could  be  determined ; 
none  which  decided  whether  a  certain  course  of  action 
was  Congregational  or  not.  Whether  the  creation  of 
such  a  standard  was  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  origi- 
nal principles  of  Congregationalism  may  be  questioned : 
but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  it  was  a  logical  and  nec- 
essary step  in  development  if  Congregationalism  was  to 
be  enforced  by  the  civil  government  as  an  exclusive 
polity." 

When,  therefore,  a  number  of  the  ministers  of  the 
Bay  petitioned  the  General  Court  at  its  meeting  in  May, 
1646,  to  issue  a  call  to  the  churches  to  assemble  by  their 
representatives  in  a  synod,  the  request  met  with  almost 


26  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

universal  approval  in  the  churches.  The  prayer  of  the 
petitioners  was  granted  and  the  call  issued.  Outside 
of  the  churches,  hou-ever,  criticism  was  keen  and  out- 
spoken. In  the  Court  itself,  there  was  not  full  unanimity 
of  opinion.  The  magistrates,  all  along  in  sympathy  with 
the  ministers,  had  no  scruples.  But  some  of  the  depu- 
ties challenged  the  right  of  the  Court  to  command  the 
churches ;  and  the  original  order  was  reconsidered  and 
modified.  Passed  in  its  final  form,  the  churches  were 
invited  to  convene  a  synod. 

The  call  issued  by  the  Court  is  an  interesting  docu- 
ment indeed,  because  it  photographs  the  prevailing  state 
of  tTie  church.  It  is  far  too  long  to  quote  entire,  but  its 
substance  is  as  follows :  "That  there  be  a  public  assembly 
of  the  elders  and  other  messengers  of  the  severall 
churches  within  this  jurisdiction,  who  may  come  to- 
gether and  meete  at  Cambridge,  upon  the  first  day  of 
September  now  next  ensueing,  then  to  discusse,  dispute, 
and  clear  up  by  the  word  of  God,  such  questions  of 
church  government  and  discipline  in  ye  things  afore- 
mentioned, or  any  other,  as  they  shall  thinke  need- 
full  and  meete,  and  to  continue  so  doing  till  they,  or 
the  major  part  of  them,  shall  have  agreed  and  con- 
sented upon  one  forme  of  government  and  discipline, 
for  the  maine  and  substantiall  pts  therof,  as  that  which 
they  judge  agreeable  to  the  Holy  Scriptures." 

When  the  synod  was  called  to  order,  it  was  found 
that,  with  the  exception  of  four,  all  the  twenty-nine 
churches  of  Massachusetts  were  represented.    The  twen- 


THE    CAMBRIDGE    SYNOD  27 

ty-two  churches  in  Plymouth,  Connecticut  and  New 
Haven  also  approved  of  the  synod  and  were  repre- 
sented in  most  cases  by  delegates.  Opposition  to  the 
synod  was  confined  almost  wholly  to  the  Boston  church, 
which  dicussed  for  two  weeks  the  propriety  of  sending 
representatives.  Finally,  Wilson  and  Cotton  went,  say- 
ing, "They  thought  it  their  duty  to  go  notwithstanding, 
not  as  sent  by  the  church,  but  as  specially  called  by  the 
order  of  the  court."  Later^  the  church  voted,  "that  the 
elders  and  three  of  the  brethren  should  be  sent  as  mes- 
sengers." 

Two  questions  received  the  attention  of  the  synod : 
first,  the  authority  of  the  civil  magistrates  and  the  rela- 
tion of  the  churches  to  the  Court ;  second,  the  character 
and"  function  of  the  synod.  That  the  problems  before 
the  council  might  be  the  more  thoroughly  presented, 
Revs.  John  Cotton  of  Boston,  Richard  Mather  of  Dor- 
chester, John  Norton  of  Ipswich  and  Ralph  Partridge 
of  Duxbury  were  each  requested  to  prepare  "a  model  of 
church  government."  This  done,  after  sitting  fourteen 
days,  the  synod  adjourned  to  June  8,  1647. 

The  synod  convened  pursuant  to  appointment.  The 
interest  was  sustained  and  the  attendance  good,  though 
an  epidemic,  which  soon  compelled  adjournment,  was 
spreading.  An  episode  of  the  meeting  was  a  sermon 
preached  on  the  opening  day  by  Rev.  Ezekiel  Rogers, 
in  which  he  denounced  the  brethren  and  repudiated  the 
synod.  In  the  afternoon  "Eliot  preached  to  the  Indians 
in  their  own  language  before  all  the  assembly." 


28  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Meanwhile,  as  we  have  seen,  the  poHtical  trend  in 
England  was  much  in  favor  of  the  Independent  churches 
in  the  American  colonies.  And,  what  was  of  more  im- 
portance. New  England  was  to  be  left  to  work  out  her 
own  destiny,  politically  and  ecclesiastically,  without  in- 
terference from  the  mother  country.  In  the  interval  the 
synod  had  grown  in  popular  estimation  and  was  to  be 
given  a  larger  place.  Since  its  first  session  the  Gen- 
eral Court  had  made  a  further  request  of  the  Council, 
namely,  that  a  form  of  church  government  be  drawn 
up.  The  Court  made  another  at  its  session,  Octo- 
ber 2^,  1647,  ^"d  invited  the  synod  to  prepare  a  con- 
fession of  faith :  "This  court  conceiving  that  it  is  as  fully 
meet  to  set  forth  a  confession  of  the  faith  we  do  profess 
touching  the  doctrinal  point  of  religion  also;  we  do  de- 
sire, therefore,  these  reverent  elders  to  take  some  pains 
each  of  them  to  prepare  a  brief  form  of  this  nature." 

Before  the  final  session  of  this  second  synod  began, 
August  15,  1648,  copies  of  the  Westminster  Confession 
of  Faith  had  been  received  from  England.  It  was  re- 
ceived with  commendation  in  most  church  circles.  The 
Synod  accepted  it  gladly  as  a  fitting  expression  of  the 
faith  doctrinally  of  the  churches,  "we  do  judge  it  to  be 
very  holy,  orthodox,  and  judicious  in  all  matters  of  faith ; 
and  do  therefore  freely  and  fully  consent  thereunto,  for 
the  substance  thereof." 

Two  drafts  at  least  of  church  polity,  requested  to 
be  made  by  the  Court,  were  presented.  That  prepared 
by  Rev.  Richard  Mather,  the  learned  minister  of  Dor- 


THE     CAMBRIDGE    SYNOD  29 

Chester,  was  preferred;  though  certain  features  of  an- 
other plan,  written  by  Rev.  Ralph  Partridge,  were  incor- 
porated finally.  The  latter,  in  some  respects,  is  more 
nearly  like  the  polity  of  the  churches  in  vogue  at  pres- 
ent. He  would  not  give  so  much  power  to  the  civil 
magistrates,  but  retain  greater  independence  for  the 
churches.  A  preface,  filling  nine  pages,  written  by  Rev. 
John  Cotton  of  Boston,  was  adopted.  It  thus  begins: 
"The  setting  forth  of  the  publick  confession  of  the  faith 
of  churches  hath  a  double  end,  and  both  tending  to  pub- 
lic edification.  First,  by  maintenance  of  the  faith  entire 
within  itself,  secondly,  the  holding  forth  of  unity  and 
harmony,  both  amongst,  and  with  other  churches." 

This  instrument,  since  known  as  the  "Cambridge  Plat- 
form," in  addition  to  the  above  preface  defending  the 
orthodoxy  of  the  New  England  churches,  contains  sev- 
enteen chapters.  The  first  four  deal  with  the  form  of 
church  government,  that  prescribed  in  the  Word  of  God 
being  declared  Congregational.  The  fifth  chapter  re- 
flects Barrowism,  stating  that  the  authority  is  vested  in 
the  elders  who  are  elected  by  the  people.  The  sixth 
defines  the  offices  of  pastor  and  deacon ;  the  seventh 
explains  their  responsibilities  and  prerogatives.  The 
eighth  shows  the  proper  methods  of  election  of  offi- 
cers; the  ninth  the  manner  of  their  ordination.  The 
tenth  defines  the  relations  existing  between  pastor  and 
people.  The  eleventh  chapter  has  to  do  with  the  finan- 
cial support  of  the  church.  The  twelfth  to  the  four- 
teenth inclusive  refer  to  the  admission,    trial    and    dis- 


30  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

mission  of  church  members.  The  fifteenth  begins :  "AU- 
though  churches  be  distinct,  and  therefore  may  not  be 
confounded  one  with  another;  and  equall,  and  therefore 
have  not  dominion  one  over  another ;  yet  all  the  churches 
ought  to  preserve  church  communion  one  with  another, 
because  they  are  all  united  unto  Christ,  not  only  as  a 
mysticall,  but  as  a  political  head :  whence  is  derived  a 
communion  suitable  therunto."  This  division  of  the 
Platform  goes  on  to  state  that  the  fellowship  of  the 
churches  is  exercised  in  sundry  ways, — "by  way  of  mu- 
tuall  care,"  "by  way  of  consultation  one  with  another, 
when  we  have  occasion  to  require  the  judgment  and 
counsell  of  other  churches,"  etc.,  "by  way  of  admonition" 
and  "by  way  of  participation."  The  sixteenth  chapter 
defines  the  character  and  function  of  the  synod : 

Synods  orderly  assembled,  &  rightly  proceeding  according  to 
the  pattern,  Acte  15.  we  acknowledg  as  the  ordinance  of  Christ: 
(Acts  15.  2.  to.  15.)  &  though  not  absolutely  necessary  to  the 
being,  yet  many  times,  through  the  iniquity  of  men,  &  pervers- 
ness  of  times,  necessary  to  the  wel-being  of  churches,  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  truth,  &  peace  therin. 

2  Synods  being  spirituall  &  ecclesiastical!  assemblyes,  are 
therfore  made  up  of  spirituall  &  ecclesiasticall  causes.  The 
next  efficient  cause  of  them  under  Christ,  is  the  powr  of  the 
churches,  sending  forth  their  Elders,  [&]  other  messengers ;  who 
being  mett  together  in  the  name  of  Christ  (Acts  15.  2,  3),  are 
the  matter  of  a  Synod;  &  they  in  argueing  (vers.  6.),  debating  & 
determining  matters  of  religion  according  to  the  word  (vers.  7  to 
23),  &  publishing  the  same  to  the  churches  whom  it  concerneth, 
doe  put  forth  the  proper  &  formall  acts  of  a  Synod ;  to  the  con- 
viction of  errours  (vers.  31.),  &  heresyes,  &  the  establishment  of 
truth  &  peace  in  the  Churches  (Acts  16.  4.  15),  which  is  the  end 
of  a  Synod. 


THE    CAMBRIDGE    SYNOD  31 

3  Magistrates,  have  powr  to  call  a  Synod,  by  calling  to  the 
Churches  to  send  forth  their  Elders  &  other  messengers  (2  Chron 
29.  4-  5-  to  II.),  to  counsel  &  assist  them  in  matters  of  re- 
ligion: but  yett  the  constituting  of  a  Synod,  is  a  church  act,  & 
may  be  transacted  by  the  churches  (Acts  15.),  even  when  civil 
magistrates  may  be  enemyes  to  churches  and  to  church  assem- 
blyes. 

4  It  belongeth  unto  Synods  &  Counsels,  to  debate  &  deter- 
mine controversies  of  faith,  &  cases  of  conscience  (Acts  15.  i.  2. 
6.  7.  I  Cbro  IS.  13.;)  to  cleare  from  the  word  holy  directions  for 
the  holy  worship  of  God,  &  good  government  of  the  church;  to 
beare  witness  against  mal-administration  &  [27]  Corruption  in 
doctrine  or  manners  in  any  particular  Church,  &  to  give  directions 
for  the  reformation  therof  (2  Chron  29:  6,  7.  Acts  15.  24  vers 
28,  29.)  :  Not  to  exercise  Church-censures  in  way  of  discipline, 
nor  any  other  act  of  church-authority  or  jurisdiction:  which  that 
presidentiall  Synod  did  forbeare. 

5  The  Synods  directions  &  determinations,  so  farr  as  conso- 
nant to  the  word  of  God,  are  to  be  received  with  reverence  &  sub- 
mission ;  not  only  for  their  agreement  therwith  (which  is  the 
pnncipall  ground  therof,  &  without  which  they  bind  not  at  all:) 
(Acts  IS.)  but  also  secondarily,  for  the  powr  wherby  they  are 
made,  as  being  an  ordinance  of  God  appointed  therunto  in  his 
word. 

6  Because  it  is  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for  many  churches 
to  com  altogether  in  one  place,  in  all  their  members  universally 
therfore  they  may  assemble  by  their  delegates  or  messengers  as 
the  church  of  Antioch  went  not  all  to  Jerusalem  (Acts  is  '2) 
but  some  select  men  for  that  purpose.  Because  none  are  or 
should  be  more  fitt  to  know  the  state  of  the  churches,  nor  to  ad- 
vise of  wayes  for  the  good  therof  then  Elders;  therfore  it  is  fitt 
that  m  the  choice  of  the  messengers  for  such  assemblies,  they  have 
special  respect  unto  such.  Yet  in  as  much  as  not  only  Paul  & 
Barnabas,  but  certayn  others  also  were  sent  to  Jerusalem  from 
Antioch.  (Acts  15:  2.  vers  22,  23)  &  when  they  were  come  to 
lerusalem,  not  only  the  Apostles  &  Elders,  but  other  brethren 
also  doe  assemble,  &  meet  about  the  matter;  therfore  Synods  are 
to  consist  both  of  Elders,  &  other  church^members.  endued  with 
g:fts  &  sent  by  the  churches,  not  excluding  the  presence  of  any 
brethren  in  the  churches. 


2,2  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  seventeenth  and  last  treats  of  the  relation  of  the 
churches  to  the  civil  magistrates  and  the  power  of  the 
latter,  which  should  be  exercised,  if  need  be,  to  punish 
idolatry,  heresy  and  blasphemy. 

Thus  closed  the  most  important  single  deliverance  of 
any  general  convention  of  the  Congregational  churches 
in  America.  After  the  experience  of  almost  a  genera- 
tion, this  declaration  defines  more  fully  than  it  had  ever 
been  elucidated  before,  the  faith  and  practice  of  our 
churches.  It  remained  the  standard  for  one  hundred 
and  thirty  years.  And  in  spite  of  the  long  lapse  of  time 
it  still  voices  in  principle  the  belief  of  the  Pilgrim 
churches  of  America. 

This  session  had  been  characterized  by  marked  cor- 
diality of  feeling  and  unanimity  of  opinion.  As  at  the 
last  session  the  brethren  listened  to  a  sermon,  this  time 
one  was  preached  by  Rev.  John  Allin  of  Dedham.  It 
was  an  expository  sermon  on  the  fifteenth  chapter  of  the 
Acts  and  explained  the  character  of  church  synods. 
Winthrop  declared  the  eflfort  to  be  "very  godly,  learned 
and  particular."  The  work  for  which  they  had  assem- 
bled having  been  done,  a  parting  hymn  was  sung  and 
the  session  was  declared  dissolved. 

The  "Platform"  thus  framed  was  soon  printed  in  Cam- 
bridge, and  at  the  October  session  of  the  Court  sub- 
mitted to  the  magistrates.  Their  caution  is  indicated  in 
the  action  by  them,  referring  the  Platform  back  to  the 
several  churches  for  approval.  The  following  year,  the 
Court  having  heard  evidently  from  few  if  any  of  the 


THE    CAMBRIDGE    SYNOD  33 

churches,  again  urges  its  consideration  by  them.  In 
May,  165 1,  the  synod  was  duly  thanked  for  its  labors; 
but  as  sundry  objections  had  been  received  by  the  Court, 
they  were  submitted  to  the  ministers  to  answer.  Rev. 
Richard  Mather  drew  up  this  reply,  which  was  approved 
by  all  the  ministers  and  submitted  to  the  Court,  which 
at  its  session  in  October,  1651,  over  five  years  after  the 
calling  of  the  synod,  officially  accepted  the  declaration 
and  commended  it  to  all  the  churches.  "Whereas  this 
Court  did,  in  the  year  1646,  give  encouragement  for  an 
assembly  of  the  messengers  of  the  churches  in  a  synod, 
and  did  desire  their  help  to  draw  up  a  confession  of  the 
faith  and  discipline  of  the  churches,  according  to  the 
Word  of  God.  .  .  .  the  Court  do  thankfully  acknowledge 
their  learned  pains  therein,  and  account  themselves 
called  of  God  to  give  their  testimony  to  the  said  book  of 
discipline,  that  for  the  substance  thereof  it  is  that  we 
have  practiced  and  do  believe." 

The  synod  had  done  for  the  churches,  scattered 
through  the  colonies,  what  they  were  powerless  to  do 
for  themselves  singly  and  alone.  At  a  time  of  threatened 
dissension,  unity  had  been  promoted  and  the  truth  indi- 
cated. The  cardinal  principles  of  the  denomination  had 
not  only  been  clearly  enunciated  but  also  put  into  ef- 
ficient practice.  It  was  a  conference  without  compulsion, 
and  yet  leadership  was  freely  accorded  to  its  almost 
unanimous  action.  It  is  to  be  noted  in  passing,  that  in 
our  day  the  objections  to  the  National  Council  are  owing 
to  the  fact  that  they  impute  to  the  triennial  conference 


34  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Presbyterian  tendencies.  In  the  seventeenth  century, 
however,  it  was  the  bulwark  which  saved  the  day  for 
pure  CongregationaHsm,  against  advancing  Presbyteri- 
anism. 


THE  "ALBANY"  CONVENTION 

The  Third   General  Convention  of  the  Congregational  Churches  of 

America,  Held  in  Albany,  New  York,  October 

5  —  8,    1852. 

Moderator,  REV.  T.  W.  D WIGHT. 
Secretary,  REV.  R.  S.  STORRS. 


THE  "ALBANY"  CONVENTION 

There  had  been  generations  of  Congregationalists, 
but,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  no  CongregationaHsm.  So 
long  as  the  churches  of  the  Pilgrim  faith  were  confined 
to  a  comparatively  narrow  strip  of  country,  parallel  to 
the  Atlantic  coast,  the  isolation  of  the  local  church  as  the 
result  of  its  polity  was  not  disastrous.  Now,  however, 
the  time  had  come  when  the  methods  of  the  past  proved 
impotent.  The  sons  and  daughters  of  New  England  had 
crossed  the  Hudson,  were  settling  the  great  Middle 
States,  and  were  penetrating  to  the  almost  unknown  be- 
yonds  of  the  vast  plains  westward.  They  were  children 
who  took  the  religion  of  their  fathers  with  them,  and 
were  zealous  in  building  up  the  walls  of  Zion.  But  dif- 
ficulties were  at  once  apparent. 

For  many,  many  years,  the  tendency  in  New  England, 
and  especially  in  Connecticut,  had  been  toward  decen- 
tralization. No  general  assembly  of  Congregational 
churches  was  held  in  the  eighteenth  century.  Ecclesias- 
tically, as  well  as  politically,  local  independency  was  em- 
phasized. A  change  in  the  tide  came,  however,  and  with 
the  gradual  expansion  of  the  New  England  settlements, 
the  desire  for  united  elTort  became  more  manifest.  The 
fear  that  Episcopacy  would  be  established  throughout 
the  colonies  by  the  Crown,  had  led  the  Independent  and 


38  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Presbyterian  churches  even  before  the  Revolution  to 
meet  by  their  representatives  in  annual  joint  convention. 
The  Synods  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  thus  met 
with  the  Association  of  Connecticut.  It  was,  therefore, 
more  the  dread  of  a  common  enemy  than  real  love  they 
bore  each  other,  which  brought  them  together.  "This 
body  met  from  1766  to  1775,  corresponded  with  Dissent- 
ers in  England,  collected  the  ecclesiastical  legislation  of 
tfhe  Colonies,  tried  to  ascertain  the  religious  preferences 
of  their  inhabitants,  and  sought  the  union  of  the  non- 
prelatical  churches  in  opposition  to  encroachment."  In 
these  love-feasts  Congregationalists  and  Presbyterians 
were  brought  more  closely  together.  Even  the  General 
Association  of  Connecticut  voted  in  1805  to  "publish  a 
new  and  elegant  edition  of  the  ecclesiastical  constitution 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church." 

The  first  Congregational  missionary  society  in  Ameri- 
ca had  been  organized  in  1798,  "to  christianize  the 
heathen  in  North  America,  and  to  support  and  promote 
Christian  knowledge  in  the  new  settlements  within  the 
United  States."  On  the  mission  fields  of  the  West  very 
different  conditions  prevailed  from  those  in  Connecticut. 
Intercommunication  became  constant.  So  far  back  as 
1790,  the  Connecticut  Association  had  voted  that  a  more 
intimate  union  with  Presbyterians  was  desirable.  Two 
years  later,  union  was  to  a  degree  consummated,  three 
Presbyterian  delegates  taking  seats  in  the  Association, 
and  the  same  number  from  Connecticut  were  accorded 
identical  privileges  in  the  General  Assembly.    The  rep- 


THE    ALBANY    CONVENTION  39 

resentatives  in  each  body  were  given  full  voting  privi- 
leges. Some  "plan  of  union"  in  missionary  eflfort  was  a 
natural  outcome.  This  was  brought  about  in  1801.  For 
only  a  short  time  did  the  "plan"  work  smoothly.  Both 
denominations  had  entered  into  the  compact  in  good 
faith,  with  apparently  no  thought  of  deriving  unfair 
advantage.  We  now,  however,  look  back  over  the  years 
and  marvel  at  their  short-sightedness.  They  seem 
not  to  have  apprehended  that  the  outlying  regions  to 
the  West  would  ever  develop.  They  expected  the  strug- 
gling missionary  churches  to  remain  weak  and  depend- 
ent. 

Dissatisfaction  with  the  "plan"  grew.  The  Presby- 
terians were  afraid  of  the  doctrinal  influences  of  the  Con- 
gregationalists ;  and  the  latter  were  learning  by  bitter  ex- 
perience that  the  stronger  organization  of  the  former 
crushed  out  Congregational  polity.  How  little  we  can 
appreciate  the  height  of  feeling  now!  Yet  this  very 
question  rent  the  General  Assembly  in  twain.  In  May, 
1835,  a  special  convention  was  held  in  Pittsburg,  attended 
by  delegates  from  fifty-four  presbyteries.  In  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  succeeding  year,  a  resolution  was 
passed,  favoring  a  discontinuance  of  the  "plan."  In 
1837,  the  crisis  came  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was 
voted  "that  the  Act  of  the  Assembly  of  1801,  entitled  a 
'Plan  of  Union,'  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  abrogated." 
Presbyteries  which  favored  the  heretical  doctrines  of 
the  New  England  theology  were  "excluded."  The  Pres- 
byterian Church  was  rent  asunder;  and  the  next  year 


4b  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

saw  two  bodies,  each  claiming  to  be  the  General  Assem- 
bly.   The  "New  School"  wing  still  held  to  the  "Plan  of 

Union." 

The  strife  within  the  Presbyterian  ranks  reacted  upon 
the  Congregational  churches.  The  latter  began  to  real- 
ize a  certain  self-consciousness.  Doctrinally,  as  well  as 
in  practice,  Congregationalists  became  more  and  more 
convinced  that  they  were  distinct  and  that  the  evident 
distinction  demanded  separation.  Freedom  had  to  be 
obtained  at  any  price.  Our  pastors  had  virtually  been 
forced  to  become  members  of  Presbytery ;  and  Con- 
gregational churches,  though  they  had  power  to  vote 
themselves  into  presbytery,  had  no  adequate  power  to 
get  out  when  once  in. 

A  great  cry  over  a  little  wool,  it  all  seems,  until  one 
takes  up  the  question  seriously  in  study :  "What  was  the 
all-sufficient  influence  that  made  possible  the  calling  of 
the  first  general  synod  of  the  Congregational  churches 
in  America  for  more  than  two  hundred  years?"     Yes, 
they  did  make  a  mountain  out  of  a  mole-hill ;  and  yet  tre- 
mendous issues  were  at  stake.    And  they  knew  it.    Must 
the  polity  of  the  Pilgrims  be  hedged  in  in  the  New  Eng- 
land States?    If  not,  it  must  be  free,  if  the  churches  are 
to  expand  and  bless  a  continent.     Gillett,  in  his  "His- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  Church"  concedes  the  great 
gains  which  had  come  because  of  the  decided  advantage 
acquired  and  held.     Rev.   A.    Hastings    Ross— and   we 
have  no  better  authority— places  the  loss  to  Congrega- 
tionalism, because  of  the  long  existence  of  the  compact, 


THE    ALBANY    CONVENTION  41 

at  more  than  two  thousand  churches.  It  was  yet  to  be 
conclusively  proved  whether  Congregationalism  could 
bear  transplanting.    A  trial,  at  least,  must  be  made. 

Therefore  the  General  Association  of  New  York  is- 
sued a  call  for  "a  convention  of  ministers  and  delegates 
of  the  Congregational  churches  of  the  United  States." 
The  response  was  remarkably  hearty  and  gratifying.  If 
anything  were  needed  to  prove  the  widespread  desire  for 
denominational  freedom,  and  autonomy,  this  result  was 
sufficient.  From  seventeen  states  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  delegates  (it  is  to  be  noticed,  so  great  was  the  in- 
terest that  the  attendance  was  much  larger  than  in  any 
one  of  the  recent  sessions)  met  in  "convention"  in  Al- 
bany, October  5,  1852.  At  no  subsequent  national  gath- 
ering have  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  real  leaders  of 
the  denomination  been  present.  If  so  much  space  had 
not  already  been  employed  in  leading  up  to  the 
meeting,  we  could  dwell  with  profit  upon  the  personnel 
of  this  memorable  gathering. 

Rev.  Leonard  Bacon,  as  chairman  of  the  Business 
Committee,  before  convening,  had  sent  circulars,  an- 
nouncing the  main  purport  of  the  assembly: — 

"i.  The  construction  and  practical  operation  of  the 
'Plan  of  Union  between  Presbyterians  and  Congrega- 
tionalists'  agreed  upon  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  the  General  Association  of 
Connecticut,  in  1801. 

"2.     The  building  of  church  edifices  in  the  West. 

"3.  The  system  and  operation  of  the  American  Home 
Missionary  Society. 


42  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

"4.  The  intercourse  between  the  Congregationalists 
of  New  England  and  those  of  other  states. 

"5.  The  local  work  and  responsibility  of  a  Congre- 
gational church. 

"6.  The  bringing  forward  of  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry. 

"7.  The  republication  of  the  works  of  our  standard 
theological  writers." 

This  well  considered  and  definite  aim  of  the  commit- 
tee was  closely  followed.  The  separate  problems  pro- 
pounded were  referred,  each  to  a  committee.  The  "Plan 
of  Union"  was  turned  over  to  a  committee  of  ten,  "two 
from  New  England,  and  one  from  each  state  repre- 
sented," save  Oregon  and  the  District  of  Columbia.  The 
debate  was  very  free  and  full.  It  is  reported  quite  fully 
in  the  Minutes,  and  in  that  respect  we  can  now  follow 
this  convention  more  accurately  than  the  recent  sessions, 
as  the  discussions  can  no  longer  be  printed  in  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Council. 

The  unanimous  result  attained  is  indicated  in  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  adopted: — 

"Whereas,  the  Plan  of  Union  formed  in  1801,  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  the 
General  Association  of  Connecticut,  is  understood  to 
have  been  repudiated  by  the  said  Assembly  before  the 
schism  in  that  body  of  1838,  though  this  year  acknowl- 
edged as  still  in  force  by  the  General  Assembly  which 
met  last  in  Washington,  D.  C. ;  and 

"Whereas,  many  of  our  Presbyterian  brethren,  though 


THE    ALBANY    CONVENTION  43 

adhering  to  this  Plan  in  some  of  its  provisions,  do  not,, 
it  is  believed,  maintain  it  in  its  integrity;  especially  in 
virtually  requiring  Congregational  ministers  settled  over 
Presbyterian  churches  and  Congregational  churches 
having  Presbyterian  ministers,  to  be  connected  with 
Presbyteries ;  and, 

"Whereas,  whatever  mutual  advantage  has  formerly 
resulted  from  this  Plan  to  the  two  denominations,  and 
whatever  might  yet  result  from  it  if  acted  upon  impar- 
tially, its  operation  is  now  unfavorable  to  the  spread  and 
permanence  of  the  Congregational  polity,  and  even  to 
the  real  harmony  of  these  Christian  comunities ; — 

"Resolved,  i.  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  convention 
it  is  not  deemed  expedient  that  new  Congregational 
churches,  or  churches  heretofore  independent,  become 
connected  with  Presbyteries. 

"2.  That  in  the  evident  disuse  of  the  said  Plan,  accord- 
ing to  its  original  design,  we  deem  it  important,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  union  sufficient,  that  Congregationalists 
and  Presbyterians  exercise  toward  each  other  that  spirit 
of  love  which  the  Gospel  requires,  and  that  their  com- 
mon faith  is  fitted  to  cherish;  that  they  accord  to  each 
other  the  right  of  pre-occupancy,  where  but  one  church 
can  be  maintained;  and  that,  in  the  formation  of  such  a 
church,  its  ecclesiastical  character  and  relations  be  de- 
termined by  a  majority  of  its  members. 

"3.  That  in  respect  to  those  Congregational  churches 
which  are  now  connected  with  Presbyteries, — either  on 
the  above  mentioned  plan,  or  on  those  of  1808  and  1813, 


44  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

between  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  bodies  in  the 
State  of  New  York, — wiiile  we  would  not  have  them 
violently  sever  their  existing  relations,  we  counsel  them 
to  maintain  vigilantly  the  Congregational  privileges 
which  have  been  guaranteed  them  by  the  Plans  above 
mentioned,  and  to  see  to  it  that  while  they  remain  con- 
nected with  Presbyteries,  the  true  intent  of  those  origi- 
nal arrangements  be  impartially  carried  out." 

For  a  long  time  there  had  been  growing  a  sense  of 
dvision  between  the  East  and  the  West.  Both  sides 
were  to  blame.  The  East  showed  a  surprising  lack  of 
charity  in  their  consideration  of  the  spirit  and  purposes  of 
the  younger  and  more  aggressive  brethren  in  the  newer 
States.  The  West  was  restless  under  the  least  restraint 
in  doctrine  or  polity  and  did  not  have  the  considerate  re- 
gard for  the  conservatism  of  New  England  that  wisdom 
would  seem  to  inculcate  at  all  times.  Were  the  faith, 
practice  and  traditions  of  the  fathers  to  be  perpetuated 
by  the  sons  in  the  enlarging  empires  of  the  West?  Or 
was  it  inevitable  that  Congregationalism  must  be  di- 
vided into  East  and  West,  as  other  communions  had 
been  divided  North  and  South?  This  was  a  most  mo- 
mentous situation  which  confronted  the  convention. 
We,  to-day,  enter  into  the  inheritance  vouchsafed  by  the 
skill,  candor  and  faith  with  which  the  delicate  matter 
was  treated  and  settled.  Resolutions  which  received 
the  hearty  support  of  both  New  England  and  Western 
delegates  were  passed,  urging  a  more  intimate  acquaint- 
ance and  a  closer  fellowship  between  the  Eastern  and 


THE    ALBANY    CONVENTION  45 

Western  churches,  and  discountenancing  charges  often 
unadvisedly  made  in  the  older  communities  against  the 
doctrinal  belief  and  churchly  practice  of  the  West. 

After  such  a  manifestation  of  genuine  love  and  loyalty, 
it  was  natural  that  the  feeling  should  take  some  prac- 
tical form.  A  call  was  issued  for  fifty  thousand  dollars 
with  which  to  provide  a  fund  for  the  assistance  of  the 
churches  in  the  West  in  the  erection  of  needed  buildings. 
The  response  was  cordial  and  exceeded  the  most  san- 
guine expectations  at  the  time;  $61,891  was  sent  in,  and 
in  due  time  wisely  distributed. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  students  of  our  church  polity  look 
upon  the  Albany  Convention  as  a  golden  mile-stone  in 
our  history.  A  crisis  was  at  the  time  reached  and  safely 
passed.  The  need  of  united  efifort  was  never  more  keenly 
felt;  nor  was  union  in  heart  and  purpose  ever  more  mani- 
fest. Had  the  Albany  Convention  failed  ignominiously, 
there  would  have  been  scarcely  a  possibility  of  a  Nation- 
al Council  in  subsequent  years.  Williston  Walker,  in 
"Creeds  and  Platforms  of  Congregationalism,"  that  vade 
mccum  of  all  Congregational  churchmen,  says,  "From 
the  meeting  of  the  Albany  Convention  there  has  been 
growing  sympathy  between  all  branches  of  Congrega- 
tionalism, East  and  West,  and  a  growing  self-respect  and 
confidence  in  its  own  right  to  be." 

Rev.  T.  W.  Dwight,  of  Maine,  had  been  chosen  to  pre- 
side over  the  deliberations  of  the  body,  and  with  gracious 
dignity  did  he  perform  his  honored  part.  Rev.  Noah  Por- 
ter, of  Connecticut,  and  Rev.  Asa  Turner,  of  Iowa,  were 


46  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

elected  Vice-presidents.  Revs.  R.  S.  Storrs,  of  Brooklyn, 
and  John  C.  Holbrook  were  secretaries.  So  high  was 
the  standard  set  that  the  meeting  has  given  the  model  to 
all  succeeding  national  conventions.  Out  of  its  candid  de- 
liberations and  helpful  fellowship  sprang  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  Building  Society,  the  Year  Book,  and  the 
Congregational  Library  Association.  The  administra- 
tions of  the  foreign  and  home  missionary  societies  re- 
ceived pledges  of  friendship  and  support  which  have 
never  been  renounced,  and  an  impetus  that  has  never 
been  lost.  The  time  of  its  meeting  was  most  opportune 
and  happy.  Yet  in  reviewing  our  denominational  press 
of  the  day,  we  see  with  what  bitter  and  intemperate  criti- 
cism the  holding  of  the  convention  was  assailed.  Some 
good  brethren  in  the  Lord  verily  believed  that  the  peace 
and  independency  of  the  churches  would  be  forever  lost. 
The  convention  was  duly  held,  the  business  before  it  was 
transacted  and  the  body  dissolved.  Congregationalism, 
East  and  West,  was  united  and  still  free. 


THE  "BOSTON  "  COUNCIL 

The   Fourth  General  Convention  of  the  Congregational  Churches  of 

America,  Held  in  Boston,  Massachusetts, 

June  14  —  24,   1865. 

Moderator,  HON.  W.  A.  BUCKINGHAM. 
Preacher,  REV.  J.  M.  STURTEVANT. 


THE  ''BOSTON"  COUNCIL 

In  the  beginning,  the  Church  of  Christ  grew.  Chris- 
tianity is  a  growth,  not  a  manufacture.  In  the  above  is 
refuted  the  sophistry  of  assertive  ecclesiasticism.  To 
divine  leadership,  manifesting  itself  in  quickened  spirit- 
ual life  and  activity,  have  Congregationalists  ever  been 
taught  to  look  for  guidance.  The  distinct  epochs  in  the 
history  of  the  Church  of  the  English  Pilgrims  in  Amer- 
ica have  always  been  marked  by  the  clear  calls  of  God 
to  duty  and  enlarging  opportunities  for  service.  True 
Congregationalism  possesses  ever-widening  horizons. 
Congregationalism  ofifers  consecrated  ambition  a  free 
field.  Congregationalism  is  favorable  to  individual  in- 
itiative. Congregationalism  lends  itself  readily  to  exper- 
iment. 

More  than  ten  years  had  passed  since  the  Albany  Con- 
vention had  brought  together  the  messengers  of  the 
churches,  East  and  West,  and  conclusively  proved  the 
unity  of  the  denomination.  Meanwhile,  the  country  had 
witnessed  unprecedented  development ;  many  thousands 
from  the  Old  World  had  sought  homes  on  the  free  soil 
of  America.  Vast  areas  had  been  occupied.  A  great  civil 
War  was  now  waging,  the  issues  of  which,  already  fore- 
seen, were  to  determine  the  destiny  of  the  country.  A 
new  era  was  before  the  church.     The  emancipation  of 


50  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

three  million  slaves,  the  necessary  social  and  political 
reconstruction,  all  propounded  problems  of  immense  sig- 
nificance. 

So  long  before  as  1670,  Increase  Mather  had  written, 
in  speaking  of  the  polity  of  our  churches,  "It  has  ever 
been  their  declared  judgment,  when  there  is  want  of 
either  light  or  peace  to  ask  for  counsel,  that  in  matters 
of  common  concernment,  particular  churches  should 
proceed  with  the  concurrences  of  neighboring  churches." 
In  an  emergency,  Congregationalism  consequently  waits 
to  hear  no  bull  of  pope  or  decree  of  bishop ;  rather  is  the 
voice  of  the  people  sought.  "The  Triennial  Convention 
of  the  Congregational  Churches  of  the  Northwest" — a 
body  whose  special  work  concerned  the  Chicago  Theo- 
logical Seminary — at  its  regular  meeting  held  in  April, 
1864,  was  deeply  moved  by  the  changing  conditions  of 
society  and  the  churches.  The  following  resolution  de- 
fines their  sense  of  responsibility : — "That  it  is  expedient 
for  the  churches  to  inquire  what  is  their  duty  in  this  vast 
and  solemn  crisis,  such  as  comes  only  once  in  ages,  and 
what  new  efforts,  measures  and  policies  they  may  owe  to 
this  condition  of  aflfairs, — this  new  genesis  of  nations." 

Thereupon  the  Rev.  Truman  M.  Post  of  St.  Louis  of- 
fered the  following  motion,  which  was  unanimously 
passed :  "That  the  crisis  demands  general  consultation, 
cooperation,  and  concert  among  our  churches,  and  to 
these  ends,  requires  extensive  correspondence  among 
our  ecclesiastical  associations, — or  the  assembling  of  a 
National   Congregational   Convention."     This  proposal 


THE    BOSTON    COUNCIL  51 

was  presented  to  the  Illinois  General  Association  at  its 
meeting  at  Quincy,  May  27,  1864,  and  was  received  with 
heartiest  commendation.  It  was  then  addressed  to  all 
the  State  Associations  and  was  heartily  approved,  with 
the  single  exception  of  New  Hampshire ;  though  one  of 
the  largest  local  associations  of  that  state  favored  the 
proposal.  The  American  Congregational  Union  (now 
the  Congregational  Church  Building  Society)  invited  the 
several  committees  from  the  different  states  to  meet  in 
Broadway  Tabernacle  Church,  New  York.  Rev.  Leon- 
ard Bacon  was  chosen  chairman  of  this  meeting,  which 
convened  November  16,  1864.  At  this  gathering  the 
name  "National  Council"  was  first  formally  chosen. 
They  voted  with  marked  unanimity  that  the  proposed 
National  Council  should  be  held  in  Boston,  June  14, 
1865 ;  and  submitted  the  following  subjects  for  consid- 
eration : 

"i.  Home  and  Foreign  Evangelization. 

"2.  Church  Building. 

"3.  Ministerial  Education  and  Support. 

"4.  Local  and  Parochial  Evangelization. 

'^5.  A  Statement  of  Church  Polity;  and  the  Revs. 
Leonard  Bacon,  A.  H.  Quint  and  H.  M.  Storrs  were  re- 
quested to  prepare  a  suitable  report. 

"6.  A  Declaration  of  Christian  Faith  as  held  in  com- 
mon by  the  Congregational  churches." 

This  was  also  referred  to  a  committee  to  report,  con- 
sisting of  Revs.  Joseph  P.  Thompson,  George  P.  Fisher 
and  E.  A.  Lawrence. 


52  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

To  the  Albany  Convention,  each  church  had  been  in- 
vited to  send  pastor  and  delegate.  To  the  prospective 
Council,  however,  the  representatives,  both  clerical  and 
lay,  were  to  be  chosen  by  the  churches,  gathered  in  their 
local  conferences  or  associations,  in  the  proportion  of 
two  for  each  ten  churches. 

In  the  Old  South  Meeting-house  in  Boston,  the  place 
made  forever  sacred  by  the  sacrifice  of  the  patriots  of 
the  Revolution,  which  British  soldiers  later  used  as 
a  barracks,  five  hundred  and  two  delegates  gathered 
pursuant  to  the  summons,  June  14,  1865.  Twenty-five 
States  were  represented,  sixteen  delegates  were  present 
from  foreign  lands  and  fourteen  were  made  honorary 
members.  Hon.  W.  A.  Buckingham,  Governor  of  Con- 
necticut, was  chosen  Moderator.  Hon.  Charles  G.  Ham- 
mond, the  large-hearted  layman  of  Chicago,  and  Rev. 
Joseph  P.  Thompson,  pastor  of  Broadway  Tabernacle, 
New  York,  were  elected  as  Assistant  Moderators. 

It  was  the  largest  national  representative  assembly 
Congregationalism  had  seen;  and,  after  a  third  of 
a  century,  the  remark  is  still  true.  Ten  days  were  spent 
in  careful  deliberations  and  few  moments  were  lost.  A 
factor  of  the  Council  which  commended  itself  to  the 
body — and  that  has  become  incorporated  into  our  tradi- 
tions— namely,  the  Business  Committee,  gave  wise  guid- 
ance. This  committee  consisted  of  Revs.  A.  H.  Quint, 
Samuel  Wolcott,  Benjamin  Labaree  and  Deacons  Philo 
Carpenter  and  S.  F.  Drury.  They  were  instructed  to 
prepare  "a  docket  for  the  use  of  the  Moderator,"  and 


THE    BOSTON    COUNCIL  53 

save  "by  special  vote  of  the  Council,  no  business"  was 
to  be  "introduced  which  has  not  .  .  .  passed  through  the 
hands  of  the  committee." 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  preliminary  meet- 
ing in  New  York  on  the  Polity  of  the  Church  made  its 
report  on  the  third  day.  It  was  the  clearest  and  most 
exhaustive  declaration  of  the  principles  governing  Con- 
gregational churches  that  had  ever  been  prepared.  It 
was  immediately  referred  to  a  special  committee,  em- 
bracing Rev.  J.  P.  Gulliver,  Prof.  Samuel  Harris,  Rev. 
Nelson  Bishop,  Prof.  E.  A.  Park,  Rev.  J.  G.  Davis,  Rev. 
Joshua  Leavitt,  Prof.  S.  C.  Bartlett,  Rev.  Charles  C.  Sal- 
ter, Rev.  Jesse  Guernsey,  Rev.  James  S.  Hoyt,  Rev.  J. 
D.  Liggett  and  Judge  Lester  Taylor,  Rev.  E.  F.  Burr 
of  Lyme,  Connecticut,  was  added  later.  An  entire  week 
these  learned  men  considered  the  report,  when  it  was 
found  that  a  small  minority  would  prevent  a  unanimous 
approval.  The  discussion  waxed  warm  at  times.  It  was 
evident  that  the  West  favored  a  positive  declaration  and 
one  defining  authority,  inclining  to  emphasize  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  churches.  A  few  in  New  England,  on  the 
other  hand,  held  out  for  independency,  pure  and  unadul- 
terated. 

In  the  dilemma.  Prof.  E.  A.  Park  rose  and  moved  a 
substitute,  which  was  adopted,  as  follows : — 

"Resolved :  That  this  Council  recognizes  as  distinctive 
of  the  Congregational  polity: — 

"First,  the  principle  that  the  local  or  Congregational 
church  derives  its  power  and  authority  directly  from 


54  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Christ,  and  is  not  subject  to  any  ecclesiastical  govern- 
ment exterior  or  superior  to  itself. 

"Second,  that  every  local  or  Congregational  church  is 
bound  to  observe  the  duties  of  mutual  respect  and  char- 
ity which  are  included  in  the  communion  of  churches 
one  with  another;  and  that  every  church  which  refuses 
to  give  an  account  of  its  proceedings,  when  kindly  and 
orderly  desired  to  do  so  by  neighboring  churches,  vio- 
lates the  law  of  Christ. 

"Third,  that  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel  by  members 
of  the  churches  who  have  been  duly  called  and  set  apart 
to  that  work  implies  in  itself  no  power  of  government 
and  that  ministers  of  the  Gospel  not  elected  to  office  in 
any  church  are  not  a  hierarchy,  nor  are  they  invested 
with  any  official  power  in  or  over  the  churches." 

The  report  presented  by  the  original  committee,  to- 
gether with  the  various  amendments  offered  and  passed, 
were  referred  to  a  new  committee,  with  the  request  that 
the  result  of  their  deliberations  be  printed,  and  pub- 
lished to  the  churches  at  their  earliest  convenience.  On 
this  committee  were  Revs.  Leonard  Bacon,  A.  H.  Quint, 
H.  M.  Storrs,  E.  A.  Park,  Samuel  Harris,  S.  C.  Bartlett, 
George  P.  Fisher,  J.  H.  Fairchild,  J.  P.  Gulliver,  Benja- 
min Labaree,  Mark  Hopkins,  William  Barrows,  Julian 
M.  Sturtevant,  Truman  M.  Post,  Edward  Beecher,  Wil- 
liam Salter,  J.  S.  Hoyt,  David  Burt,  J.  P.  Thompson, 
Nathaniel  A.  Hyde,  Leonard  Swain,  Richard  Cordley, 
Rufus  Anderson,  and  the  following  well-known  laymen : 
Woodbury  Davis,  Henry  Stockbridge,  Asahel  Finch, 
Warren  Currier  and  J.  H.  Brockway. 


THE    BOSTON    COUNCIL  55 

In  few  matters  submitted  by  national  assemblies  have 
the  subjects  in  hand  been  given  more  thoughtful  care. 
Not  until  seven  years  after  did  this  large  committee 
publish  the  result  of  their  deliberations  to  the  churches, 
under  the  title :  "Ecclesiastical  Polity :  the  Government 
and  Communion  Practised  by  the  Congregational 
Churches  in  the  United  States  of  America,  Which  were 
represented  by  Elders  and  Messengers  in  a  National 
Council  at  Boston,  A.D.  1865." 

It  is  one  of  several  documents,  prepared  with  much 
prayer  and  mature  consideration,  that  has  been  appar- 
ently buried  and  lost  sight  of.  A  peculiar  feature  of  this 
declaration,  sometimes  called  "The  Boston  Platform,"  is 
the  respect  it  has  received  and  the  weight  it  has  carried 
in  other  lands.  Foreign  missionaries  find  in  it  much  to 
guide  them,  and  the  churches  of  our  order  in  Australia 
and  other  foreign  lands  have  been  frank  to  acknowledge 
their  sense  of  indebtedness  to  it. 

It  is  to  be  noted  in  passing,  that  a  similar  result  fol- 
lowed the  famous  Savoy  Confession  in  1658.  It  had 
little  eflfect  on  the  churches  which  prepared  it,  but  In- 
crease Mather  brought  it  to  America  and  it  was  long  the 
creed  of  the  Congregational  churches  of  New  England. 

The  "Minutes"  of  this  Council  fill  464  pages,  many  of 
them  in  fine  print.  Only  a  synopsis  can  at  best  be  at- 
tempted. The  several  benevolent  societies,  through  whose 
agencies  the  missionary  work  of  the  churches  is  carried 
on,  were  passed  in  review.  Special  stress  was  placed  upon 
the  inadequate  means  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society 


56  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

because  of  the  rapid  development  of  the  West.    It  was 
also  the  beginning  of  the  era  which  was  to  witness  the 
extraordinary  increase  in  manufactures  and  the  growth 
of  cities.     Systematic  beneficence  was  dwelt  upon,  and 
loyalty  to  our  own  agencies  emphasized.     The  call  for 
more  and  better  trained  pastors  was  urgent,  though  it 
was  deplored  that  so  many  ministers,  evidently  worthy 
and  capable,  were  without  charge.    As  a  result  of  the  call 
issued  by  the  Albany  Convention,  a  goodly  sum  had 
been  secured  for  the  erection  of  churches.    The  Ameri- 
can Congregational  Union  had  been  organized.     Unde- 
nominational agencies  also  received  recognition,  such  as 
the   American   Bible    Society,   and  the   Sunday-School 
Union. 

The  delegates  assembled  represented  2750  churches, 
3000  ministers  and  275,000  church  members.  Rev.  Julian 
M.  Sturtevant,  the  pioneer  missionary,  college  founder, 
and  State  organizer,  preached  a  memorable  sermon  two 
hours  in  length.  Unlike  many  of  the  denominations, 
Congregationalism  was  not  divided  on  the  slavery  ques- 
tion, nor  rent  asunder  by  the  War  of  Secession  so  re- 
cently ended.  The  South  and  the  Southwest,  Dr.  Stur- 
tevant saw  with  the  eye  of  a  prophet,  were  soon  to  wel- 
come all  who  came  in  the  name  of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 
We  have  seen  that  a  debate  extending  over  nearly  the 
entire  session,  from  time  to  time,  on  a  statement  of 
polity,  had  been  practically  settled.  Another  committee 
appointed  in  New  York  reported  a  Declaration  of  Faith. 
This  debate  was  continued  so  long  and  the  minutes  are 


THE    BOSTON    COUNCIL  57 

so  voluminous  that  one  especially  interested  must  be  re- 
ferred to  them;  or  to  the  Congregational  Quarterly  x: 
377;  Schaff's  "Creeds  of  Christendom"  iii :  374;  or 
Walker's  "Creeds  and  Platforms,"  p,  553.  No  sooner 
was  the  report  submitted,  than  the  propriety  of  making 
the  declaration  was  questioned.  Overwhelmingly,  it  was 
decided  that  the  action  was  germane  to  the  function  of 
the  Council  and  in  accord  with  the  spirit  of  Congrega- 
tionalism. The  original  report  was  assigned  to  a  com- 
mittee which  ultimately  was  composed  of  Revs.  John  O. 
Fiske,  Nahum  Gale,  Joseph  Eldridge,  Leonard  Swain, 
A.  G.  Bristol,  J.  C.  Hart,  G.  S.  F.  Savage,  Deacon  S.  S. 
Barnard,  and  Profs.  D.  J.  Noyes,  Samuel  Harris,  E.  A. 
Park,  E.  A.  Lawrence,  Noah  Porter,  J.  H.  Fairchild 
and  Joseph  Haven. 

This  committee  made  an  even  longer  report  than  the 
first,  adding  to  the  number  of  subjects  treated  and  es- 
pecially amplifying  the  doctrinal  statements.  One  para- 
graph was  inserted,  that  at  once  provoked  fierce  contro- 
versy : — 

"In  conformity,  therefore,  with  the  usage  of  previous 
councils,  we,  the  elders  and  messengers  of  the  Congre- 
gational churches  in  the  United  States,  do  now  profess 
our  adherence  to  the  above  named  Westminster  and 
Savoy  Confessions  for  'substance  of  doctrine.'  We  thus 
declare  our  acceptance  of  the  system  of  truths  which  is 
commonly  known  among  us  as  Calvinism,,  and  which  is 
distinguished  from  other  systems  by  so  exalting  the 
sovereignty  of  God  as  to  'establish'  rather  than  take 


S8  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

away  the  'liberty'  or  free-agency  of  man  and  by  so  ex- 
hibiting the  entire  character  of  God  as  to  show  most 
clearly  'the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin.'  " 

In  the  course  of  the  debate,  Prof.  Park,  the  beloved 
teacher  of  Andover,  declared :  "We  are  Calvinists, 
mainly,  essentially,  in  all  the  essentials  of  our  faith." 
The  hour  had  come  to  close,  the  question  was  still  be- 
fore the  assembly.  And  the  Council  had  voted  four  days 
previously  to  meet  on  the  morrow,  not  in  Boston,  but 
on  Burial  Hill,  Plymouth,  where  rest  the  ashes  of  the 
martyrs  to  that  first  winter  in  the  New  World.  The  day 
was  cloudless.  The  Council  went  down  one  thousand 
strong.  It  was  very  apparent  that  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment of  a  decidedly  large  majority  was  essentially  Cal- 
vinistic.  It  was  clear  that  if  forced  to  a  vote  the  "Cal- 
vinistic"  section  would  command  the  suffrages  of  all  but 
a  very  few.  Harmony  was  to  be  obtained  if  possible : 
and  the  unanimity  essential  could  only  be  attained  by 
eliminating  a  few  of  the  objectionable  statements.  Some 
of  the  leading  men  decided  at  once  to  prepare  a  new 
declaration  leaving  out  the  objectionable  features,  and 
present  it  in  the  morning.  So  great  was  the  pressure 
of  business  and  so  short  the  time  that  Dr.  Quint  com- 
pleted the  draft,  with  his  hat  as  a  tablet,  while  the  train 
was  rushing  onward  to  Plymouth.  The  resolutions  were 
presented  and  approved.  Thus  the  Rubicon  was  passed 
and  what  came  to  be  known  as  the  "Burial  Hill  Declara- 
tion" united  the  Council.  Dr.  Quint  has  written :  "A 
spirit  of  gratitude  to  God  was  everywhere  felt.  A  danger 


THE    BOSTON     COUNCIL  59 

had  been  arrested.  The  real  unity  of  our  churches  in 
faith  had  providentially  found  expression." 

It  is  a  document  in  which  we  may  take  just  pride.  It 
is  to  be  regretted  that  the  declaration  is  so  little  known 
among  the  rank  and  file  of  our  churches.  The  opening 
lines  at  least  must  be  quoted : — 

"Standing  by  the  rock  where  the  Pilgrims  set  foot 
upon  these  shores,  upon  the  spot  where  they  worshiped 
God,  and  among  the  graves  of  the  early  generations,  we 
Elders  and  Messengers  of  the  Congregational  churches  of 
the  United  States,  in  National  Council  assembled, — like 
them  acknowledging  no  rule  of  faith  but  the  Word  of 
God, — do  now  declare  our  adherence  tO'  the  faith  and  or- 
der of  the  apostolic  and  primitive  churches  held  by  our 
fathers,  and  substantially  as  embodied  in  the  confessions 
and  platforms  which  our  Synods  of  1648  and  1680  set 
forth  or  reaffirmed." 

After  reference  to  a  committee,  it  was  at  last  offered 
for  final  action  in  the  Council  on  the  succeeding  day. 
The  vote  was  in  the  affirmative,  hearty  and  unanimous. 
The  members  rose  as  by  common  impulse  and  joined 
in  prayer  with  Rev.  Ray  Palmer.  The  meeting  closed 
with  the  singing  of  his  hymn,  "My  faith  looks  up 
to  Thee,"  and  the  benediction.  Dunning,  in  his  popular 
volume,  "Congregationalists  in  America"  quotes  from 
the  New  York  "Independent,"  of  current  date,  an  arti- 
cle, written  on  the  spot,  picturing  the  scene  on  Burial 
Hill:— 

"It  was  a  sublime  moment !  Nearly  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  had  passed  since  the  feeble  'Mayflower'  com- 


6o  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

pany  had  repeated  in  solemn  covenant  the  articles  of 
their  despised  faith  on  that  spot.  'What  do  these  feeble 
Jews?'  said  a  sneering  world.  'Even  that  which  they 
build,  if  a  fox  go  up,  he  shall  even  break  down  their 
stone  wall.'  Now  five  hundred  men,  the  representatives 
of  three  thousand  churches,  the  representatives  of  ideas 
which  have  triumphed  gloriously  and  finally  over  the 
land,  the  representatives  of  Puritanism,  pure  and  simple, 
unchanged,  unabashed,  bold  and  intense,  as  in  the  days 
of  the  Commonwealth,  stood  on  the  soil  made  firm  by 
the  heroic  tread  of  those  despised  men  and  exultingly 
declared,  'This  faith  is  our  faith.  These  ideas  have  saved 
our  country,  and  are  going  forth,  conquering  and  to  con- 
quer, over  the  world.' " 

Thus  was  brought  to  an  end  a  convention  which  must 
ever  hold  a  unique  place  in  the  annals  of  the  Church  of 
the  Pilgrims.  In  the  language  of  him  who  was  more 
potent  than  any  other  one  man  in  calling  the  conven- 
tion and  shaping  its  policy,  it  had  been  proved  that  a 
national  convention  could  assemble  "without  domination 
over  churches  and  without  danger  of  assuming  author- 
ity. It  has  shown  that  mutual  fellowship  and  commun- 
ion in  Christian  love  form  a  tie  as  strong  as  that  of  any 
ecclesiastical  machinery; — that  unity  may  be  preserved 
by  brotherly  consultation  without  the  penalties  of  judi- 
cial procedure.  It  has  given  evidence  that,  with  the  pos- 
session of  a  common  faith,  co-operation  in  the  great  en- 
terprises of  the  Gospel  is  the  strongest  bond  of  fraternity 
under  Christ." 


THE  "OBERLIN"  COUNCIL 

The  First  Session  of  the   National   Council,  Held  in  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
November  15  —  21,   1871. 

Moderator,  REV.  W.  I.  BUDINGTON. 
Preacher,  REV.  LEONARD    BACON. 


THE  ''OBERLIN"  COUNCIL 

The  two  national  conventions  which  had  met  in  com- 
paratively recent  years  had  left  the  happiest  of  m.emo- 
ries.  Their  deliberations,  though  lacking  legislative 
powers,  had  resulted  in  untold  good  to  the  denomination. 
Their  representative  character,  the  spirit  and  wisdom  of 
the  proceedings,  had  won  even  doubting  minds  to  the 
value  and  necessity  of  a  similar  body,  which  should  be 
permanent  and  meet  regularly.  This  feeling  found  a 
voice  in  the  recognized  denominational  press.  All  parts 
of  the  broad  land  seemed  equally  desirous  that  such  an 
organization  should  be  established. 

It  remained  for  the  Church  of  the  Pilgrimage,  in  Plym- 
outh, Massachusetts,  to  which  the  last  Convention  had 
repaired,  and  where  the  memorable  confession  of  faith 
was  adopted  on  Burial  Hill,  to  send  out  letters  inviting 
sister  churches  of  our  faith  to  commission  delegates  to 
attend  a  preliminary  meeting,  March  2,  1870.  This  com- 
mission was  invited  to  suggest  appropriate  measures 
commemorating  the  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary 
of  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims.  On  convening,  it  was  soon 
found  that  they  were  of  one  mind.  It  was  deemed  expe- 
dient, however,  to  make  haste  slowly.  So  the  entire  mat- 
ter, after  full  consideration,  was  referred  to  a  committee, 
of  which  Hon.  Edward  S.  Tobey  was  chairman,  Rev.  H. 


64  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

M.  Dexter,  secretary,  and  Deacon  Samuel  Holmes,  treas- 
urer. Associated  with  them  were  Revs.  W.  W.  Patton, 
A.  H.  Quint  and  Ray  Palmer,  with  Deacon  A.  S.  Barnes, 

In  accord  with  the  instructions  given,  this  provisional 
committee  requested  all  the  Congregational  churches  in 
the  United  States  to  send  each  a  representative  to  the 
"Pilgrim  Memorial  Convention"  the  following  month  in 
Chicago.  Pursuant  to  the  call,  this  convention  met  in 
the  First  Church,  April  27,  1870.  B,  W.  Tompkins,  of 
Connecticut,  was  chosen  chairman,  Hon.  E.  D.  Holton 
of  Wisconsin,  Rev.  Samuel  Wolcott  of  Cleveland  and 
President  George  F.  Magoun  of  Iowa,  his  assistants. 
The  secretaries  were  Revs.  H.  C.  Abernethy  of  Illinois, 
Philo  R.  Hurd,  Michigan,  and  L.  Smith  Hobart  from 
New  York. 

Again  the  pulse  of  our  churches  was  felt.  It  was  a 
matter  of  so  much  importance  that  no  mistake  should  be 
made.  Continued  deliberation  revealed  a  unanimous 
sentiment  that  a  convention,  meeting  regularly,  without 
judicial  authority,  yet  representing  all  our  churches,  com- 
petent to  discuss  the  needs  of  the  denomination  and 
voice  the  sentiment  of  our  people,  should  be  instituted 
as  soon  as  it  could  be  wisely  brought  about.  The  execu- 
tive committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  W.  W.  Patton,  Rev. 
R.  B.  Howard  of  Illinois,  Hon.  J.  C.  Walker  of  Michigan, 
and  James  L.  Kearnie,  Esq.,  of  Missouri,  offered  the  fol- 
lowing, which  was  unanimously  approved:  "That  this 
Pilgrim  Memorial  Convention  recommend  to  the  Con- 
gregational State  Conferences  and  Associations,  and  to 


THE    OBERLIN    COUNCIL  65 

other  local  bodies,  to  unite  in  measures  for  instituting 
on  the  principle  of  fellowship,  excluding  ecclesiastical 
authority,  a  permanent  National  Conference." 

Very  soon  the  General  Association  of  Ohio  received 
the  invitation  and  acted  affirmatively,  appointing  a  com- 
mittee with  Rev.  A.  Hastings  Ross  as  chairman  to  cor- 
respond with  other  State  bodies  and  facilitate  if  possible 
the  holding  of  the  proposed  convention.  This  initiative 
was  everywhere  cordially  welcomed.  The  General  Asso- 
ciation of  New  York  proposed  to  the  churches  of  the 
country  without  further  delay,  that  they  elect  commis- 
ioners  to  a  preliminary  meeting  to  be  held  in  Boston, 
December  21,  1870.  The  standing  committee  of  the 
Massachusetts  Association  adopted  the  proposal  and 
sent  out  invitations  accordingly, 

A  goodly  number  responded.  It  was  the  third  prelim- 
inary meeting  held  to  consider  the  question  propounded. 
Unanimously,  the  following  was  passed :  "That  it  is  ex- 
pedient, and  appears  to  be  clearly  the  voice  of  the 
churches,  that  a  National  Council  of  the  Congregational 
Churches  of  the  United  States  be  organized."  Only 
one  State,  which  contained  but  seventy  churches,  had 
voted  adversely  on  sending  delegates, — and  that  by  a  ma- 
jority of  only  one.  Of  this  meeting,  held  in  the  Congre- 
gational Library,  Rev.  E.  B.  Webb  was  chosen  Chair- 
man, Hon.  A.  C.  Barstow  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
Assistant,  Rev.  W.  E.  Merriman  of  Ripon,  Wisconsin, 
Scrfbe,  with  Hon.  H.  S.  McCall  as  his  Assistant.  Maine, 
New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connec- 


66  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

ticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Minne- 
sota and  Wisconsin  were  represented.  It  was  a  happy 
coincidence  that  the  day  the  above  action  was  taken  was 
the  two  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniv.ersary  of  the  exact 
date,  December  21,  1620,  on  which  the  Httle  Pilgrim 
Church  had  landed  at  Plymouth  so  long  ago. 

One  more  thing  had  to  be  done,  namely,  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  Provisional  or  Executive  Committee  to  pre- 
pare the  draft  of  a  suitable  constitution,  select  the  time 
and  place  of  meeting,  designate  the  proper  repre- 
sentation of  the  churches,  and  issue  the  customary  call 
or  invitation.  Another  link  in  the  chain  had  been  added. 
The  Committee,  elected  by  ballot,  was  composed  of 
Rev.  A.  H.  Quint,  of  New  Bedford,  Massachusetts,  Pres- 
ident William  E.  Merriman,  of  Ripon  College,  Prof.  S. 
C.  Bartlett,  Chicago  Seminary,  Deacon  Samuel  Holmes, 
Montclair,  New  Jersey,  Maj.  Gen.  Oliver  O.  Howard, 
U.  S.  Army,  Rev.  William  Ives  Budington,  Brooklyn, 
and  Hon.  A.  C.  Barstow  of  Providence.  Other  well- 
known  men  who  shared  in  these  deliberations  were 
Revs.  James  G.  Vose  and  Leonard  Bacon,  Bicknell  the 
educator.  President  Israel  W.  Andrews  and  Edward  W. 
Gilman,  who  was  to  give  so  many  years  to  the  American 
Bible  Society. 

It  proves  the  eminent  conservatism  of  Congregation- 
alism that  so  much  thought  and  prayer  should  have  been 
given  to  the  proposed  organization  before  the  convention 
met  which  was  to  bear  the  name  of  the  First  National 
Council.  No  one  can  ever  bring  the  charge  that  the 
Council  was  the  sudden  creation  of  intemperate  haste. 


THE    OBERLIN    COUNCIL  67 

In  pursuance  of  the  call  issued  by  the  Committee  of 
the  Convention  held  in  Boston  eleven  months  previous, 
a  Council  of  the  Congregational  churches  of  the  United 
States  assembled  in  the  Second  Church,  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
Wednesday,  November  15,  1871. 

A  temporary  organization  was  eflfected  by  the  election 
of  Hon.  Erastus  D.  Holton  of  Wisconsin  as  Moderator. 
Rev.  James  H.  Fairchild  welcomed  the  coming  of  the 
guests  in  a  felicitous  address.  The  3100  churches,  3000 
ministers  and  312,000  members  were  represented  by  276 
delegates.  It  is  profitable  and  interesting,  withal,  to  re- 
call the  names  of  the  messengers  who  were  deemed  wor- 
thy by  the  churches  to  represent  them  in  this  first  na- 
tional  convention,  under  a  constitution,  of  the  Commun- 
ion in  America.  Space  permits  reference  to  only  a  few 
of  the  many.  From  distant  California  came  Rev.  Israel 
E.  Dwinell,  who,  with  his  beloved  confrere,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Benton,  was  to  give  his  life  to  the  founding  of  Pacific 
Theological  Seminary.  Colorado  had  but  one  delegate 
in  the  person  of  Rev.  Nathan  Thompson.  The  Connec- 
ticut delegation  comprised  twenty-seven  men,  among 
whom  were  Revs.  Leonard  Bacon,  W.  H.  Moore,  Or- 
lando H.  White,  Jeremiah  Taylor,  Asa  S.  Fiske  and 
Elisha  C.  Jones.  Laymen  whose  names  are  cherished 
were  Deacon  Charles  Benedict  of  Waterbury,  the  Hon. 
David  P.  Nichols,  Whitney  Elliott,  Esq.,  the  Hon.  Ben- 
jamin Douglas,  Henry  P.  Haven,  long  a  pillar  of  the 
church  in  New  London,  and  the  Hon.  William  A.  Buck- 
ingham, Governor  of  the  State. 


.68  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  Illinois  representatives  were  tO'  have  much  weight 
in  the  coming  deliberations  of  the  body.  Among  them 
were  Revs.  J.  E.  Roy,  W.  W.  Patton,  G.  S.  F.  Savage, 
who  was  elected  temporary  Scribe,  Julian  M.  Sturtevant, 
and  his  son  of  the  same  name,  John  K.  McLean,  since  a 
leader  in  good  works  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  Alexan- 
der B.  Campbell.  Prof.  William  Coffin,  Stephen  B.  Stin- 
son>,  Esq.,  and  William  Converse,  M.D.,  were  among  the 
laity. 

Iowa  was  in  the  midst  of  remarkable  development  as 
a  State  and  sent  Revs.  William  M.  Brooks,  long  the  ef- 
ficient President  of  Tabor,  J.  A.  Hamilton,  Harmon 
Bross,  who  later  was  to  be  claimed  by  Nebraska,  George 
F.  Magoun,  always  to  be  associated  with  the  struggles 
of  Iowa  College,  Ephraim  Adams,  the  pioneer,  and  Jo- 
seph W.  Pickett,  who  afterwards  lost  his  life  in  the  mis- 
sionary service  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Rev.  Peter  McVicar,  the  builder  of  Washburn  College, 
and  Rev.  Richard  Cordley,  who  was  to  take  an  active 
part  in  subsequent  national  assemblies,  were  from  Kan- 
sas. Samuel  P.  Benson,  Simeon  Page  and  Joseph  Tit- 
comb  were  leading  laymen  who  came  from  Maine.  Mas- 
sachusetts sent  a  remarkably  able  delegation  of  forty-six 
men.  Hon.  Alpheus  Hardy,  Deacon  J.  Russell  Bradford, 
Alexander  Hyde,  Esq.,  Deacon  Ezra  Farnsworth,  were 
among  the  representatives  of  the  pew.  Revs.  E.  B. 
Webb,  Edward  S.  Atwood,  Mason  Noble,  Jr.,  Edmund 
K.  Alden  and  Joshua  W.  Wellman  were  of  the  clergy, 
Among  the  pastors  from  Michigan,  Warren  F.  Day,  Le- 


THE    OBERLIN    COUNCIL  69 

roy  Warren  and  Jesse  W.  Hough  should  be  mentioned. 
Rev.  James  W.  Strong,  who  was  to  build  a  worthy  mon- 
ument in  Carleton  College,  was  sent  by  the  General  Con- 
ference of  Minnesota.  The  nestor  of  St.  Louis,  in  the 
person  of  Rev.  Truman  M.  Post,  brought  credentials 
from  Missouri,  together  with  Revs.  Minot  J.  Savage, 
Edwin  B.  Turner  and  James  H.  Harwood.  Rev.  Edward 
Hawes  was  sent  by  the  churches  of  Philadelphia  and 
Gen.  O.  O.  Howard  from  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Associations  of  New 
York  elected  Revs.  William  Ives  Budington,  Ray 
Palmer,  Henry  M.  Storrs  and  William  H.  Ward.  No 
one  was  to  exert  a  more  potent  influence  in  shaping  the 
form  and  character  of  the  Council  than  Rev.  A.  Hastings 
Ross  of  Ohio.  From  far  away  Oregon  came  Rev. 
George  H.  Atkinson  to  receive  a  merited  welcome.  Rev. 
James  G.  Vose  was  present  from  Providence,  and  Rev. 
Henry  S.  Bennett  from  Nashville.  Wisconsin  was  ably 
represented  by  Rev.  Charles  H.  Richards,  subsequently 
called  to  Philadelphia,  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Eaton,  the  hon- 
ored father  of  noble  sons,  and  the  Hon.  Samuel  D.  Hast- 
ings. 

The  first  morning  and  afternoon  sessions  were  given 
to  the  main  business  before  the  assembly,  namely,  for- 
mal and  permanent  organization.  In  the  evening,  Rev. 
Leonard  Bacon  preached  from  the  text,  "And  hath  put 
all  things  under  his  feet,  and  gave  him  to  be  the  head 
over  all  things  to  the  church"  (Eph.  i  :  22).  A  chorus 
of  colored  students  from  Fisk  University  added  much 


70  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

to  the  enjoyment  of  the  guests.  Papers  were  read  and 
discussed  upon  the  following  subjects,  familiar  even 
now : — "Vacant  Churches  and  Unemployed  Ministers," 
"Congregational  Literature,"  "The  Supply  of  the  Min- 
istry," and  "The  Unity  of  the  Church." 

The  last  provoked  a  long  and  animated  discussion, 
which  resulted  in  passing  what  the  Council  was  pleased 
to  call  a  "Declaration  of  Faith."  The  closing  paragraph 
reads :  "We  believe  in  the  Holy  Catholic  Church.  It  is 
our  prayer  and  endeavor,  that  the  unity  of  the  church 
may  be  more  and  more  apparent,  and  that  the  prayer  of 
our  Lord  for  his  disciples  may  be  speedily  and  com- 
pletely answered,  and  all  be  one :  that  by  consequence  of 
this  Christian  unity  in  love,  the  world  may  believe  in 
Christ  as  sent  of  the  Father  to  save  the  world." 

After  two  days  given  to  the  discussion  of  the  constitu- 
tion presented  by  the  Committee,  it  was  unanimously 
adopted.  Two  paragraphs  caused  much  debate:  first, 
that  relating  to  "faith ;"  second,  the  name,  many  con- 
tending that  the  body  should  not  be  called  "Council" 
at  all.  But  no  other  substitute  was  received  with  favor. 
In  lieu  of  no  better  name,  "Council"  was  finally  adopted 
unanimously. 

The  Council  proceeded  to  organize  under  the  Consti- 
tution, and  elected  oflficers  by  ballot.  The  Rev.  William 
I.  Budington,  of  Brooklyn  was  chosen  Moderator.  He 
remarked  significantly  in  taking  the  chair,  "We  stand 
on  the  grave  of  buried  prejudice."  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard 
and  the  Rev.  George  H.  Atkinson  were  Assistant  Mod- 


THE    OBERLIN    COUNCIL  71 

erators.  Rev.  A.  H.  Quint,  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  was 
the  choice  for  Secretary,  Rev.  William  H.  Moore,  Berlin, 
Conn.,  Registrar,  and  Hon.  Charles  G.  Hammond,  Chi- 
cago, Treasurer. 

A  pleasant  occasion  followed  in  the  laying  of  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  a  new  building  for  the  Theological  School. 
A  strong  appeal  was  made  for  funds  to  build  the  Congre- 
gational House  in  Boston.  Sunday  afternoon,  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  observed.  The  service  was  con- 
ducted by  President  Charles  G.  Finney,  who,  later,  at  the 
invitation  of  the  Council,  preached.  Many  requests  hav- 
ing come  that  a  manual  of  doctrine  and  polity  be  pre- 
pared, a  strong  committee  was  assigned  to  this  work, 
"whose  sanction  may  give  currency  to  the  manual,  not 
as  a  book  of  binding  authority,  but  c.s  a  means  of  general 
instruction,  commended  to  the  churches  for  its  real 
merits." 

A  petition  was  sent  to  Congress  urging  the  publica- 
tion of  document  37  of  the  third  session  of  the  Forty- 
first  Congress,  that  sets  forth  "the  great  service  which 
Dr.  Whitman  and  his  intrepid  companions  rendered  to 
our  country  in  saving  our  Northwest  Coast  from  the 
grasp  of  a  foreign  power."  A  deficiency  in  the  treasury 
of  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society  came  up  for 
extended  consideration.  At  the  close,  a  resolution  was 
passed  appointing  a  committee  to  consider  and  report, 
"Whether  any  consolidation  of  such  organization  is  prac- 
ticable, with  a  view  to  the  promotion  of  unity  and  ef- 
ficiency of  operation,  and  the  reduction  of  expenses, 
which  are  felt  to  be  needless  and  therefore  burdensome." 


-2  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  Council  made  a  declaration,  as  a  result  of  two 
hours  of  debate,  in  regard  to  the  duty  of  ministers  to  be 
in  orderly  connection  with  some  ministerial  or  ecclesi- 
astical organization  which  should  be  able  to  certify  to 
their  regular  standing  in  the  ministry,  urging  the 
churches  to  employ  only  such  as  have  evidence  of  their 
good  standing. 

The  action  of  the  Government  in  negotiating  a  new 
treaty  with  Great  Britain  was  commended  and  the  prin- 
ciple of  international  arbitration  was  heartily  endorsed. 
The  spiritual  quality  had  been  manifest.  The  marvelous 
address  of  the  venerable  Charles  G.  Finney  left  its  in- 
delible impress  upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of  his  audi- 
ence. The  usual  vote  of  thanks  was  recorded.  The 
hymn,  "Ye  Christian  heralds,  go  proclaim,"  was  sung; 
the  benediction  was  pronounced ;  and  the  moderator  de- 
clared the  session  dissolved. 


THE  "NEW  HAVEN"  COUNCIL 

The  Second  Session  of  the  National  Council,  Held  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  Sept.  30— Oct.  4,  1874. 

Moderator,  L.  S.  FOSTER. 
Preacher,  REV.  R.  S.   STORRS. 


THE  ««NEW   HAVEN"  COUNCIL 

The  first  Council  to  bear  the  name  "National,"  under 
a  constitution,  held  in  Oberlin,  in  1871,  more  than  met 
expectations.  The  action  was  positive  and  potent;  the 
reaction  came  in  1874,  and  was  not  less  pronounced.  In 
the  history  of  the  Councils,  one  soon  discerns  an  ebb 
and  flow,  as  in  the  tides  of  the  sea. 

The  fourth  general  convention  of  the  Congregational 
churches  of  America  was  called  to  order  in  the  historic 
Center  Church,  on  the  Green,  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
September  30,  1874,  by  the  Rev.  Henry  M.  Storrs.  An 
address  of  welcome  was  given  by  Rev.  Leonard  Bacon, 
the  tenth  pastor  of  the  church  in  which  the  Council  met. 
It  was  reminiscent  and  dwelt  upon  the  history  of  the 
State,  the  city  and  the  churches  of  our  order  in  New 
Haven.  The  First  Church  is  coeval  with  the  town.  On 
the  15  April  (old  style)  1638,  the  first  settlers  of  the  place, 
having  just  landed,  assembled  for  public  worship  under 
the  guidance  of  their  chosen  pastor,  Rev.  John  Daven- 
port. Over  a  year,  the  ecclesiastical  and  civil  aflfairs  of 
the  community,  then  called  Quinnipiac,  were  conducted 
under  a  provisional  arrangement  or  "plantation  cove- 
nant." The  congregation  was  called  together  by  the  beat- 
ing of  a  drum  from  a  lookout  on  the  roof.  Sentinels  were 
always  placed  on  guard  to  give  warning  of  the  incur- 
sions of  the  savages.    Six  field-pieces,  ready  for  instant 


76  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

action,  made  the  assembly  more  secure.  The  building 
in  which  the  Council  convened  was  erected  in  1812  and 
is  the  fourth  reared  by  the  society. 

When  nominations  were  called  for,  an  unusually  large 
supply  of  moderatorial  timber  appeared, — Hon.  L.  S. 
Foster,  Connecticut,  Hon.  E.  B.  Gillett,  Hon.  William 
B.  Washburn,  Hon.  John  Z.  Goodrich,  all  of  Massachu- 
setts, Rev.  Joseph  Emerson,  Wisconsin,  Rev.  George  F. 
Magoun,  Iowa,  and  Colonel  C.  G.  Hammond  of  Chi- 
cago. The  first  named  was  elected,  with  Rev.  George  F. 
Magoun  and  Rev.  I.  E.  Dwinell  of  California  as  Assist- 
ants. In  passing,  it  may  be  noted  that  one  of  the  num- 
ber, Washburn,  received  this  great  honor  at  a  subse- 
quent session  of  the  Council. 

An  amendment  to  the  By-laws  was  voted,  "That  per- 
sons selected  as  preachers,  or  to  prepare  papers,  or  to 
serve  upon  committees,  appointed  by  this  body,  should 
be  entitled  to  seats  in  the  session  in  which  they  are  to 
serve,  without  privilege  of  voting." 

No  set  order  has  been  observed  from  the  beginning 
in  arranging  the  program  for  the  several  days  of  the  dif- 
ferent sessions.  The  evening  of  the  opening  day,  so 
great  was  the  desire  to  hear  the  invited  preacher  that  the 
edifice  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  then  many 
were  turned  away.  Rev.  William  M.  Taylor,  pastor  of 
Broadway  Tabernacle,  New  York,  conducted  the  service. 
Rev.  Richard  S.  Storrs  chose  as  his  texts  i  John  4 :  8,  "He 
that  loveth  not  knoweth  not  God;  for  God  is  love,"  and 
Matthew  5 :  8,  "Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart :  for  they 


THE    NEW    HAVEN    COUNCIL  yj 

shall  see  God."  The  introduction  pictured  the  develop- 
ment of  science,  possibly  the  most  marked  of  all  the  phe- 
nomena of  the  present  century.  This  change  has  been 
felt  in  every  sphere  of  human  life.  Science  has  gone  for- 
ward from  triumph  to  triumph  until,  it  would  seem,  noth- 
ing could  remain  which  would  not  be  subdued.  Science 
is  an  all-conquering  monarch.  "But  it  has  never  yet 
bridged  the  chasm  between  molecular  action  and  spirit- 
ual forces."  Science  unaided  cannot  account  for  the 
universe  as  it  is.  The  hidden  forces  appear  to  be  the 
most  potent  and  regnant.  Science  explains  much  that 
we  see  and  hear ;  but  beyond  are  vast  worlds  which  mvite 
exploration  but  defy  conquest.  The  spiritual  is  a  necessity 
to  complete  the  material.  God  is.  All  things  have  their 
origin  in  Him.  From  Him  proceeds  all  power  in  heaven 
and  in  earth.  He  is  a  Person;  "and  personality  in  man 
is  the  inseparable  correlative  of  the  personality  of  God." 
With  masterly  genius  he  graphically  sketched  the  pro- 
found lessons  of  cosmogony.  We  behold  a  world;  it 
must  be  accounted  for.  Then,  passing  to  the  history  of 
mankind,  he  boldly  outlined  the  onward  progress  of  the 
race.  Spirituality  is  the  crowning,  "So  we  come  to  that 
answer  to  our  question,  which  the  Lord  has  given,  'The 
pure  in  heart  shall  see  God.'  "  Science,  then,  if  wise,  does 
not  attempt  to  discover  God.  "It  works  with  wrong  in- 
struments;— it  is  like  hunting  for  love  with  a  micro- 
scope." The  Church  is  an  association  of  believers  in  the 
overruling  providence  of  God,  which  is  mindful  of  the 
sparrow's  fall  and  yet  guides  worlds  in  their  flight.  This 
faith  is  the  pledge  of  immortality. 


78  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  sermon  required  a  little  more  than  an  hour  and  a 
half  for  delivery.  No  notes  whatever  were  used.  We 
are  wholly  dependent  on  the  reporters'  synopsis.  The 
fame  of  the  orator  had  preceded  him.  The  audience  was 
composed  of  "the  old  families,"  the  New  England 
Brahmin  class,  and  a  large  representation  of  the  faculty 
of  the  College.  Probably  in  no  single  effort  in  any  ses- 
sion of  the  Council  has  eloquence  arisen  to  such  superb 
power  and  exalted  heights.  The  Assistant  Moderator, 
Rev.  George  F.  Magoun,  led  in  prayer,  and  what  must 
be  known  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  all  the  ser- 
vices held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Council  closed. 

At  the  opening  of  the  second  day  President  Noah  Por- 
ter extended  a  cordial  invitation  to  the  members  of  the 
Council  tO'  visit  the  different  departments  of  the  Uni- 
versity. Rev.  I.  E.  Dwinell  of  Sacramento,  California, 
read  a  paper  on  the  "Fellowship  of  the  Churches."  A 
cardinal  principle  of  our  polity,  it  has,  nevertheless,  been 
overlooked  and  neglected.  Its  neglect  has  caused  our 
denomination  to  fall  behind  others  in  the  march  of  evan- 
gelization across  the  continent.  It  was  a  calm  and  clear 
presentation  of  one  of  the  canons  of  our  practice,  "em- 
phasizing the  responsibilities  of  Congregationalists  by 
reason  of  the  peculiar  privilege  of  their  polity."  It  was 
urged  that  "Congregationalists,  of  ail  others,  must  be 
good  Christians  to  be  good  churchmen." 

The  American  Congregational  Association  reported. 
It  was  hoped  the  new  Congregational  House  in  Boston 
would  be  ready  for  dedication  next   Forefathers'   Day. 


THE    NEW    HAVEN    COUNCIL  79 

The  total  cost  had  been  about  one-half  million  of  dollars. 
The  citizens  of  Boston  gave  the  larger  part  of  this 
amount.  "Here  is  an  opportunity  and  a  privilege  before 
the  entire  country.  It  is  a  benefaction  that  makes  glad 
many  hearts  and  is  a  blessing  to  all  the  missionary  work 
of  the  churches." 

The  Hon.  Charles  T.  Russell,  president  of  the  Con- 
gregational Publishing  Society,  spoke  briefly  of  its 
work.  Rev.  Christopher  Cushing  reviewed  the  activi- 
ties of  the  American  Congregational  Union.  Dr.  Buf- 
field  spoke  of  the  happy  marriage  of  the  College  Society 
with  the  Education  Society  and  the  applause  which 
greeted  his  remarks  indicated  that  many  rejoiced  in  this 
union  of  effort.  "And  now  if  you  want  a  still  further  re- 
duction in  the  percentage  of  expenses, — swell  our  re- 
ceipts." 

The  American  Board  was  represented  by  Secretary 
Treat ;  the  American  Home  Missionary  Society  by  its 
Secretary,  Dr.  Coe;  and  the  Rev.  M.  E.  Strieby  addressed 
the  house  on  the  need  of  more  men  and  money  to  answer 
pressing  calls  from  dark  corners  of  our  own  land. 

Each  session  of  the  Council  since  its  organization  has 
had,  with  very  few  exceptions,  some  one  supreme  issue 
that  has  overshadowed  all  others.  The  benevolent  so- 
cieties, which  are  the  agents  of  the  churches,  their  con- 
stitutional requirements,  and  their  methods  of  adminis- 
tration furnished  the  all-absorbing  theme  at  this  session. 
At  Oberlin,  three  years  before,  a  strong  and  conservative 
committee  had  been  elected  to  consider  thoroughlv  the 


8o  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

societies  and  their  work.  Rev.  E,  S.  Atwood  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Col.  Charles  G.  Hammond,  Illinois,  Warren 
Currier,  St.  Louis,  Rev.  L.  H.  Cobb,  Minnesota,  Rev. 
W.  W.  Patton,  Chicago,  Henry  P.  Haven,  Esq.  and  R. 
B.  Thurston  of  Connecticut  reported  unanimously  as  a 
committee  and  recommended  nine  changes.  "The  Con- 
gregationalist"  of  current  date  has  the  fullest  account  we 
possess  of  the  recommendations  and  the  discussions 
which  ensued. 

"Certain  grave  difficulties  are  found  to  stand  in  the 
way  of  recommending  any  radical  change  in  the  existing 
order,"  the  report  declared.  But,  they  also  assert, 
"There  was  a  leakage  and  a  waste  incident  to  the 
present  methods  of  administration  which  might  be 
stopped  by  more  thorough  and  compact  organization. 
Greater  efficiency  would  be  almost  certain  to  result  from 
consolidation."  In  almost  every  session  to  the  very  last 
of  the  New  Haven  Council  this  matter  came  up  in  one 
form  or  another.  It  would  not  down.  The  committee 
was  composed  of  men  who  possessed  the  fullest  confi- 
dence of  all  the  churches.  In  the  light  of  the  prevailing 
sentiment  of  the  day,  their  report  was  conservative. 
What  was  intended  to  bring  light,  did  so,  but  it  started 
a  conflagration.  The  entire  question  of  the  function  of 
the  Council  was  debated  earnestly.  Some  insisted  that  it 
should  be  simply  a  conference,  passing  no  resolutions 
and  recording  no  votes.  Others  would  greatly  increase 
in  number  and  power  its  prerogatives.  There  were  those 
who  deprecated  any  action  whatever  involving  the  be- 


THE    NEW    HAVEN    COUNCIL  8i 

uevolent  societies  and  their  work.  This  argument  was 
answered  by  saying  something  must  be  done  to  save  the 
societies,  as  they  had  already  forfeited  the  confidence  of 
many  givers.  On  the  whole,  it  may  be  said  New  Eng- 
land men  disclaimed  giving  any  advice.  Dr.  E.  P.  Good- 
win, pastor  of  the  First  Church,  Chicago,  is  quoted  as 
saying,  "I  hope  the  Council  will  stand  fairly  up  to  its 
privilege  and  duty  of  advising  with  respect  to  the  work 
of  the  societies."  It  was  not  so  much  what  was  said  as 
it  was  the  manner  of  the  saying  which  aroused  an  an- 
tagonism seldom  if  ever  equaled  in  any  discussion  in  the 
Council.    Diplomacy  v/as  sadly  lacking. 

A  feature  of  the  early  sessions  of  the  Council,  very 
wisely  dropped  since,  was  the  time  given  to  listening  to 
delegates  from  corresponding  bodies.  Each  necessarily 
brought  a  very  brief  message,  superficial  and  too  often 
smacking  of  mere  formality.  The  Council  manifests  no 
less  good  will  in  deciding  that  this  perfunctory  feature 
should  be  wholly  eliminated. 

Rev.  E.  B.  Coe  of  the  American  Home  Missionary  So- 
ciety read  a  paper,  prompted  by  his  rich  experience,  on 
"Comity  between  Denominations  on  the  Home  Field." 
Hundreds  of  towns  in  America  were  declared  to  be  over- 
churched.  Not  enough  Christianity,  but  too  much  eccle- 
siasticism.  It  struck  a  responsive  chord  in  the  hearts  of 
many  in  the  body.  The  writer  quoted  Bishop  A.  C. 
Coxe  as  saying  that  he  had  found  a  town  in  New  York 
State  where  five  spires  point  to  heaven,  and  yet  the  doors 
are  closed  and  there  is  no  preaching  of  the  gospel,  all  be- 


82  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

cause  of  sectarian  strife  and  bitterness.  Dr.  Coe  said  he 
could  name  now  one  hundred  churches  which  should 
have  special  interest  in  the  remark  of  our  Lord  to  Peter, 
— "by  what  death  he  should  glorify  God." 

Dr.  Quint,  as  Secretary  of  the  Council,  reported  the 
triennial  statistics  of  the  churches,  which  numbered 
3325,  ministers  3238,  church  members  323,679,  indicat- 
ing a  gain  in  three  years  of  17,161.  In  that  period,  413 
churches  had  been  organized,  but  209  had  been  dropped. 
Idaho,  West  Virginia  and  Nevada  had  entered  the  ranks 
of  our  brotherhood. 

Rev.  Zachary  Eddy  presented  a  carefully  prepared  pa- 
per on  "The  Occasions  of  Hope  for  a  Great  and  Imme- 
diate Eflfusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit."  It  was  followed  by 
an  hour  of  devotional  exercises.  Rev.  W.  H.  H.  Murray 
had  been  invited  to  read  upon  the  subject,  "How  to 
Make  the  Pulpit  Effective  with  the  Masses."  It  was  de- 
cidedly brilliant,  like  the  meteoric  course  of  its  once  dis- 
tinguished author.  "We  must  study  the  actual  man,  not 
the  theoretical."  Barbed  shafts  were  hurled  at  the 
weak  spots  in  the  armor  of  Congregationalists  who  have 
always  been  in  danger  of  permitting  a  cold  intellectual- 
ism  to  chill  their  hearts. 

President  James  H.  Fairchild  of  Oberlin  brought  some 
strong  meat  and  placed  it  before  the  body  in  his  paper, 
"The  Character  essential  to  the  Religion  that  shall  take 
firm  hold  upon  the  American  People."  He  regarded  the 
gospel  as  eternal  and  unchanging,  but  its  application 
must  vary  from  age  to  age.     "The  religion  which  shall 


THE    NEW    HAVEN    COUNCIL  83 

take  strong  hold  upon  the  people  must  ask  nothing  of 
faith  that  reason  cannot  grant."  Various  reports  were 
made,  and  the  Rev.  A.  F.  Beard  read  a  paper, — "The 
Undeveloped  Power  in  the  Churches  and  Individuals." 
Most  beautiful  autumn  weather  continued  through 
the  entire  session.  Sunday,  the  closing  day,  many  of  the 
pulpits  of  the  city  were  filled  by  delegates  to  the  Council. 
In  the  afternoon,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  observed,  and, 
at  the  close,  the  benediction  was  pronounced,  and  the  ses- 
sion was  declared  dissolved.  Thus  ended  a  session  that 
commands  a  distinct  place  in  the  history  of  the  Council. 
It  defines  the  low-water  mark  in  the  series.  The  tide  was 
at  the  flood  in  Oberlin ;  it  had  fallen  in  New  Haven.  The 
New  York  "Independent,"  in  current  issue  editorially 
says,  "The  Congregational  Council  at  New  Haven  was 
not  intellectually  the  strongest  body  of  men  that  this  de- 
nomination has  ever  assembled.  Many  of  the  recognized 
leaders  of  the  commuinion  were  absent,  and  the  great 
vacancy  which  they  made  was  not  at  all  filled  by  certain 
confident  brethren  who  hastened  to  the  front  to  take 
their  places.  If  the  Congregationalists  are  to  perpetuate 
this  system  of  councils,  they  must  learn  to  suppress 
bores."  In  the  perspective  of  years,  we  may  look  back 
with  less  feeling  than  the  antagonisms  of  the  hour 
aroused.  The  session  taught  wholesome  lessons  which 
have  not  been  forgotten.  It  marks  the  limit  in  the  swing 
of  the  pendulum.  Mindful  of  conscious  strength,  it  was 
testing  its  power,  and,  like  many  a  young  athlete,  overdid 
in  the  efTort.  Wisdom  was  to  be  attained  by  experience 
and  a  golden  mean  was  to  be  found. 


THE  "DETROIT"  COUNCIL 

The  Third  Session  of  the  National  Council,  Held  in  Detroit, 
Michigan,  October  17  —  21,  1877. 

Moderator,  HON.  W.  B.  WASHBURN. 
Preacher,  REV.  ZACHARY  EDDY. 


THE  "DETROIT"  COUNCIL 

The  third  session  of  the  National  Council  was  called 
to  order  Oct.  17,  1877,  in  the  Second  Congregational 
Church,  Detroit,  Michigan.  The  credentials  of  the  dele- 
gates were  collected  and  their  names  were  read.  From 
nominations  without  remark,  Hon.  William  B.  Wash- 
burn, formerly  United  States  Senator  and  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  was  chosen  Moderator.  Rev.  Aaron  L. 
Chapin,  of  Wisconsin,  and  Deacon  Charles  G.  Ham- 
mond, of  Chicago,  were  elected  Assistant  Moderators. 

Among  the  long  list  of  the  delegates,  space  permits 
reference  to  a  few  only.  Deacon  Stephen  S.  Smith,  who 
generously  contributed  for  many  years  tO'  the  churches 
of  San  Francisco,  was  one  of  the  four  who  represented 
California.  Rev.  R.  T.  Cross  was  sent  by  the  State  As- 
sociation of  Colorado.  In  the  Connecticut  delegation 
were  Rev.  Charles  Ray  Palmer  of  Bridgeport,  Deacon 
James  B.  Williams  of  Glastonbury,  Rev.  Frederick  A. 
Noble  of  New  Haven,  and  Deacon  William  C.  Crump 
of  New  London.  Rev.  Charles  Seccombe,  the  pioneer 
missionary,  brought  credentials  from  the  new  Associa- 
tion in  Dakota  Territory.  Rev.  Alexander  R.  Thain, 
later  to  serve  as  editor  of  "The  Advance,"  came  from 
Galesburg,  Illinois,  Charles  W.  Keyes,  Esq.,  from 
Quincy,  Rev.  John  W.  Bradshaw,  subsequently  called 
to  preach  to  the  students  of  Oberlin,  was  sent  from  Elgin 


88  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Association.  Rev.  George  Huntington,  then  a  pastor 
in  Oak  Park,  was  another  member  of  the  same  delega- 
tion. 

Iowa  chose  the  veteran  Rev.  William  Salter,  Revs. 
George  F.  Magoun,  William  M.  Brooks  and  Julian 
M.  Sturtevant,  Jr.  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley,  whom  the 
churches  were  to  honor  later.  Rev.  Ezra  H.  Bying^on, 
who  was  to  write  of  the  Puritans,  Deacon  Simon  Page 
of  Hallowell  and  the  Rev.  William  H.  Fenn  were  the 
messengers  from  the  Pine  Tree  State.  Massachusetts 
again  sent  a  noble  body  of  men  with  Rev.  H.  M.  Dexter 
at  their  head.  Rev.  Joshua  Coit  came  from  Lawrence, 
Deacon  Warren  F.  Draper  from  Andover,  Rev.  John  D. 
Kingsbury  hailed  from  Bradford,  and  Deacon  A.  Lyman 
Williston,  the  wise  counselor  of  Mount  Holyoke,  Rev. 
Francis  N.  Peloubet,  whose  aid  in  Sunday-school  in- 
struction we  all  welcome,  and  Rev.  Washington  Gladden 
from  Springfield,  were  among  the  number.  Rev.  Joseph 
B.  Clark  and  Prof.  Thomas  W.  Bicknell  brought  creden- 
tials from  the  Suffolk  South  Conference. 

To  this  Council  Rev.  Richard  Cordley  came,  not  from 
Kansas  but  from  Flint,  Michigan.  President  James  B. 
Angell  and  Deacon  Allen  Fish  of  Port  Huron  were  also 
in  the  Michigan  party. 

President  James  W.  Strong  and  his  pastor.  Rev.  Dela- 
van  L.  Leonard,  were  from  Northfield,  Minnesota.  Rufus 
J.  Baldwin  was  the  only  Minneapolis  man  present.  Rev. 
Henry  C.  Simmons,  who  was  to  give  his  life  to  North 
Dakota,  and  Rev.  John  H.  Morley,  his  worthy  successor 


THE    DETROIT    COUNCIL  89 

as  President  of  Fargo  College,  were  among  the  North 
Star  representatives. 

Rev.  Robert  West  brought  his  cheery  greetings  from 
St.  Louis,  and  Rev.  Lewis  Gregory  came  from  Lincoln, 
Nebraska.  The  General  Association  of  New  Hampshire 
elected  only  one  man,  the  Rev.  Franklin  D.  Ayer.  New 
Jersey  was  to  be  heard  frequently  in  the  persons  of  Revs. 
George  M.  Boynton  of  Newark,  Jeremiah  E.  Rankin  and 
Amory  H.  Bradford. 

From  New  York  came  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Virgin  of  the 
metropolis  and  Rev.  Henry  M.  Ladd  of  Walton. 

Ohio  commissioned  the  beloved  Revs.  Samuel  Wol- 
cott  and  Allen  C.  Barrows  of  Kent,  who  was  to  succeed 
him  in  the  State  Missionary  Society.  Rev.  Stephen  D. 
Peet  of  Ashtabula  was  already  beginning  to  win  laurels 
in  archeology.  Prof.  John  M.  Ellis  of  Oberlin,  President 
Israel  M.  Andrews  and  his  pastor.  Rev.  Theron  H. 
Hawkes,  of  Marietta,  and  the  late  Rev.  Justin  E.  Twich- 
ell  were  also  in  this  goodly  company. 

Rev.  A.  J.  F.  Behrends  sat  in  the  Council  from  Rhode 
Island,  and  Rev.  Henry  S.  Bennett  from  Tennessee. 
Rev.  George  L.  Walker  came  from  Brattleboro,  Ver- 
mont, with  Hon.  Franklin  Fairbanks  of  St.  Johnsbury 
and  Rev.  Russell  T.  Hall  of  Pittsford.  The  Congrega- 
tional and  Presbyterian  Convention  of  Wisconsin  was 
present  in  the  person  of  Rev.  Aaron  L.  Chapin ;  and  the 
future  distinguished  teacher  of  Philosophy  in  Yale,  Rev. 
George  T.  Ladd,  left  his  home  in  Milwaukee,  as  did  the 
Rev.  Arthur  Little  of  Fond  du  Lac. 


90  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

"I  love  thy  kingdom,  Lord,"  may  well  be  entitled  the 
Council's  favorite  hymn.  After  the  singing,  the  usual 
committees  were  announced.  A  subject  which  has  re- 
ceived careful  attention  at  several  Councils  and  to  this 
day  remains  unsettled,  namely,  some  method  by  which 
the  expenses  of  the  delegates  could  be  met,  was  given 
to  a  committee  for  consideration. 

The  weakness  of  the  Congregational  polity  is  painfully 
apparent  in  that  we  read  in  the  minutes  of  almost  every 
Council,  a  subject  which  was  very  forcibly  presented  by 
Rev.  H.  M.  Dexter,  "Churchless  Pastors  and  Pastorless 
Churches."  To  this  day  the  weak  spot  in  our  polity  is 
the  pastorate ;  it  should  be  the  strongest.  The  greatest 
waste  is  not  in  money,  but  in  what  is  more  precious,  men. 
The  closing  words  of  this  able  report  will  appeal  to  all 
who  preach  the  gospel  of  the  Christ :  "No,  we  must  not 
ask  for  nor  expect — I  doubt  if  we  want — a  'smart'  man. 
Let  us  be  contented  with  a  good  man,  and  if  when  we 
get  him,  we  find  that  he  is  not  perfect,  let  us  not  find 
fault  with  him  until  we  be  perfect  ourselves." 

The  Rev.  Constans  L.  Goodell  of  St.  Louis,  who  was 
always  welcomed  in  all  the  assemblies  of  the  churches, 
read  a  paper  on  "Woman's  Work  as  a  Part  of  the  Re- 
ligious Movement  of  the  Time."  He  facetiously  intro- 
duced his  theme  by  saying  that  in  discussing  a  theme 
upon  which  so  many  good  men  differ  widely,  he  feared 
he  might  bring  down  the  house  upon  him  as  did  Samson 
of  old.  After  a  luminous  review  of  the  work  of  women 
in  different  epochs  he  asks   the   question :   "Is   it   wise 


THE    DETROIT    COUNCIL  91 

and  expedient  to  organize  permanently  in  the  churches 
separate  boards  for  women?"  He  answers  in  the  nega- 
tive :  "The  woman's  board  divides  the  stream  of  benevo- 
lence." 

Wednesday  evening,  the  Rev.  Zachary  Eddy  of  De- 
troit, Michigan,  preached  the  Council  sermon  from 
Hosea  14 :  5-7.  Since  the  last  triennial  gathering,  there 
had  been  marked  spiritual  interest  in  many  of  the 
churches.  The  sermon  was  decidedly  evangelistic.  He 
defined  a  true  revival  as  "like  a  gentle  rain  falling  upon 
fields  mellowed  by  the  plough  and  the  harrow,  and 
thickly  sown  with  good  seed."  But  he  urged  as  of  great- 
est importance,  "regular,  practical,  unremitting  Chris- 
tian work,"  giving  as  a  reason  that  "great,  periodical  re- 
freshings, precious  as  they  are,  do  not  suffice  to  make 
the  church  perennially  flourishing." 

Rev.  Arthur  Little,  of  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  read 
a  paper  on  "Fellowship  and  Union  Meetings."  It  was 
followed  by  a  general  discussion  stimulating  and  helpful 
because  of  practical  suggestions.  "One  sign  of  a  vital, 
aggressive  Christianity  is  its  inventiveness.  Eager  for 
new  conquests,  intent  on  fresh  victories,  it  will  find  new 
lines  of  march,  discover  new  points  of  attack,  forge  new 
weapons,  venture  upon  new  combinations  and  try  new 
experiments.  It  is  the  glory  of  the  gospel  that  it  is  still 
flexible  and  free  in  its  methods.  It  is  more  and  more 
clearly  seen,  as  the  vision  becomes  clarified,  that  there 
are  'diversities  of  gifts,'  yet  it  is  still  the  same  spirit,  the 
same  Lord,  'the  same  God  which  worketh  all  in  all.' 


92  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Among  the  manifold  agencies  owned  and  blessed  of  God, 
during  the  last  three  years,  are  'Fellowship  Meetings/ 
They  grew  out  of  the  movement  in  the  Oberlin  Council 
for  the  organization  of  home  missionary  societies  in  the 
West.  Home  evangelization  was  their  chief  aim.  They 
have  generally  been  managed  by  missionary  committees 
or  by  the  missionary  superintendent.  Properly  begun 
and  conducted,  these  meetings  have  usually  grown  in  in- 
tensity and  power  to  the  end.  Their  primary  purpose  is 
not  revival  work,  but  to  create  and  give  practical  ex- 
pression to  the  sentiment  of  Christian  fellowship  and  fra- 
ternal sympathy  among  neighboring  churches  with  a 
view  to  mutual  helpfulness  in  spiritual  things." 

"  Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 

Our  hearts  in  Christian  love; 
The  fellowship  of  Christian  minds 
Is  like  to  that  above." 

In  the  discussion  which  followed,  it  was  repeatedly 
stated  that,  in  the  potent  religious  movements  of  recent 
years,  East  and  West,  under  Moody,  Needham,  Ham- 
mond and  other  evangelists,  the  spiritual  results  were 
due  in  large  measure  to  union  efifort.  Pastors,  it  was 
declared,  could  at  least  assist  each  other,  and  thus 
double  the  force  in  the  time  of  harvest.  The  power  of 
the  brotherhoods  in  the  Roman  Church  was  said  to  lie 
in  the  fact  that  the  missionaries  do  not  labor  singly  and 
alone.  Congregationalism  because  of  its  polity  is  in 
peculiar  need  of  just  that  strength  that  comes  from 
united  efifort. 


THE    DETROIT    COUNCIL  93 

An  overture  on  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath  elicited 
little  interest.  It  is  difficult  to  cast  any  new  light  upon 
this  much  debated  theme.  The  action  of  the  Council  was 
sane  and  commendable :  "We  cordially  and  unanimously 
join  the  memorialists  in  emphasizing  the  supreme  impor- 
tance of  educating  the  great  masses  of  our  people  to  an 
intelligent  recognition  of  the  important  social  and  civic 
advantages  flowing  from  a  reverent  use  of  the  Christian 
Sabbath,  and  of  the  serious,  complicated,  and  widespread 
evils  that  accompany  its  desecration,  by  devoting  it  to 
the  purposes  either  of  pleasure  or  gain."  From  Presi- 
dent Woolsey  of  Yale  a  paper  was  received  on  "The 
Bible  in  the  Pubhc  Schools."  The  members  of  the 
Council  evidently  were  not  all  with  him  when,  in  his 
summary,  he  said,  "I  question  very  much  whether  the 
formal  reading  by  rote  of  the  Bible  in  the  schools,  as  a 
school  book,  does  so  much  good  as  to  be  justly  regarded 
essential."  It  was  referred  to  a  committee,  which  re- 
ported later  through  its  chairman.  President  Angell,  urg- 
ing public  sentiment  "to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  demand 
for  the  entire  exclusion  of  the  Bible  from  our  public 
schools."  President  Bascom  introduced  the  old  prob- 
lem, "State  Universities  versus  Denominational  Col- 
leges." Over  it,  the  debate  waxed  warm.  Finally,  the 
report  of  Rev.  C.  R.  Palmer  was  adopted,  "that  the  ordi- 
nary colleges  cannot  safely  be  abandoned,  while,  at  the 
same  time,  there  need  be  no  antagonism  to  the  universi- 
ties." 

The   several  national  benevolent  societies  presented 


94  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

statements  which  were  referred  to  committees.  At  this 
Council  began  the  movement  to  organize  a  national  so- 
ciety for  providing  assistance  to  disabled  or  aged  min- 
isters. Rev.  Justin  E.  Twitchell  was  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  having  the  matter  in  charge. 

An  overture  from  the  General  Association  of  New 
Jersey  was  presented,  received,  referred  to  a  committee 
of  five,  and  answered.  This  communication  raised  the 
question  whether  the  National  Council  was  germane  to 
Congregationalism.  This  overture  is  considered  more 
at  length  in  the  chapter,  "The  Function  of  the  Council." 

Rev.  Henry  Clay  Trumbull,  of  Pennsylvania,  read  a 
paper  on  "Sunday-School  Work ;  its  Sphere  and  its 
Methods."  Let  us  note  in  passing  his  definition :  "By 
the  Sunday-school  I  mean  that  department  of  the  church 
in  which  Bible  truth  is  taught  by  form  of  question  and 
answer,  to  scholars  gathered  in  groups  under  intelligent 
and  disciplined  teachers." 

The  Committee  on  the  Parish  System,  of  which  Rev. 
Samuel  Wolcott  was  chairman,  brought  in  an  exhaustive 
report, — the  longest  ever  presented  to  any  of  the  sessions 
thus  far.  It  fills  nearly  one  hundred  pages,  in  small  type, 
of  the  published  minutes  of  this  assembly.  Much  subse- 
quent legislation  in  the  several  states  of  the  Union  has 
rendered  this  deliverance  obsolete. 

A  communication  was  received  from  the  Rev.  Prof. 
George  E.  Day  of  Yale,  calling  attention  to  the  eminent 
propriety  of  the  Council  erecting  a  memorial  to  Rev. 
John  Robinson.    A  committee  was  duly  appointed,  and 


THE    DETROIT    COUNCIL  95 

fourteen  years  later,  at  the  close  of  the  First  Interna- 
tional Council,  a  beautiful  tablet  was  unveiled  with  ap- 
propriate ceremonies  in  the  city  of  Leyden,  Holland. 

Sunday  afternoon,  in  the  First  Church,  the  Council 
met  in  the  closing  session  to  observe  the  Lord's  Supper. 
It  was  peculiarly  fitting  that  this  assembly  should  close 
in  a  service  of  tender  and  grateful  remembrance.  One 
of  the  best  and  most  profitable  of  all  the  sessions  of  the 
Triennial  thus  ended.  The  Moderator  declared  the 
Council  adjourned  without  day. 

The  previous  session  was  the  dark  hour  for  the  Coun- 
cil. Circumstances  tended  to  minimize  the  interest  and 
discredit  the  proceedings.  This  session  redeemed  the 
Council.  Of  the  fellowship  which  the  Council  forcibly 
expresses,  the  West  feels  the  need  more  deeply  than  the 
East.  In  weakness,  churches  want  not  alone  brother- 
hood, but  to  be  mothered.  If  not  fostered  and  encour- 
aged in  the  beginning,  many  die.  The  Council  sent  forth 
a  note  of  cheer,  calling  to  an  enlarging  privilege  and 
duty,  which  went  out  to  all  the  churches. 


THE  "ST.  LOUIS"  COUNCIL 

The   Fourth  Session   of  the   National   Council,  Held  in  St.    Louis, 
Missouri,  November  11  —  15,  1880. 

Moderator,  REV.  HENRY   M.  DEXTER. 
Preacher,  REV.  SAMUEL  E.  HERRICK. 


THE  "ST.  LOUIS"  COUNCIL 

"This  is  an  evil  generation:  they  seek  a  sign,"  was  the 
text  of  the  sermon  preached  by  invitation  before  the 
fourth  session  of  the  National  Council  by  Rev.  Samuel 
E.  Herrick  of  Boston.  Profitably,  we  could  quote  from 
this  inspiring  discourse :  "This  tendency  to  exalt  a  sign 
to  the  place  of  reality,  or  to  put  up  paper  for  gold,  when 
it  arises  in  the  religious  life  of  a  man  or  a  people,  is  a 
disastrous  thing."  The  closing  words  are  worthy  of  re- 
membrance: "Signs  of  life  are  not  life,  because  they  may 
be  manufactured.  Life  itself  is  the  breath  of  God  mov- 
ing upon  the  soul  of  man,  humbled  at  his  feet,  lying  open 
to  his  free  and  gracious  and  constant  inspiration.  In  an 
organization  like  ours,  the  individual  is  peculiarly  the 
unit  of  influence,  not  the  church  or  the  minister.  The 
denomination  must  be  what  its  humblest  members  are. 
The  consecration  of  the  whole  is  in  the  fidelity  of  its  ele- 
ments. Let  us  make  our  order  a  power  for  God,  by  re- 
ceiving into  our  own  souls  the  power  of  God." 

Deacon  Amos  C.  Barstow  of  Rhode  Island,  as  chair- 
man of  the  provisional  committee,  called  the  session  to 
order.  Rev.  Henry  M.  Dexter  of  Boston  was  chosen 
Moderator.  Rev.  Julian  M.  Sturtevant  of  Iowa  and  Rev. 
John  D.  Smith  of  Alabama  were  elected  his  assistants. 

As  usual,  the  roll  of  delegates  contained  many  of  the 
most  forceful  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  churches. 


100  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Alabama  was  represented  for  the  first  time  in  the  Coun- 
cil. Rev.  Henry  S.  De  Forest,  who  gave  his  life  to  the 
education  of  our  brother  in  black  in  Talladega,  sat  as  a 
member.  Rev.  I.  E.  Dwinell  came  again  from  Sacra- 
mento, California.  The  first  woman  to  be  sent  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Council  came  from  Denver  in  the  person  of 
Miss  Amanda  R.  Bell.  It  indicates  very  clearly  the 
genius  and  spirit  of  our  practice,  that,  when  her  name 
came  before  the  committee  on  credentials,  she  was  at 
once  enrolled  without  question.  Rev.  C.  M.  Sanders,  so 
long  the  faithful  pastor  in  Cheyenne,  Wyoming,  was  also 
in  the  Colorado  delegation.  Rev.  Joseph  Anderson  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  large  Connecticut  body.  The 
future  pastor  of  Plymouth  Church,  Minneapolis,  Rev.  L. 
H.  Hallock,  left  his  parish  at  West  Winsted.  Rev.  James 
B.  Gregg,  the  dean  of  the  Congregational  corps  of  Colo- 
rado, in  later  years,  was  also  from  the  Nutmeg  State. 
An  able  company  of  deacons  were  of  the  party, — Benja- 
min Douglas  of  Middletown,  Henry  Sawyer,  New  Brit- 
ain, George  M.  Woodruff,  Litchfield,  Charles  Benedict, 
Waterbury  and  John  O.  Couch,  Middlefield. 

Dakota  Territory  sent  two  useful  representatives  in 
Revs.  Stewart  Sheldon  and  Joseph  Ward  of  Yankton. 
Rev.  Joseph  E.  Roy  was  one  of  the  two  men  who 
brought  their  credentials  from  Georgia.  John  Deere, 
the  extensive  manufacturer,  was  sent  by  the  Rock 
River  Association  of  Illinois.  Rev.  Geo.  C.  Adams,  later 
graduated  from  a  St.  Louis  pastorate  at  the  call  of  the 
"Old  First,"  San  Francisco,  California,  brought  greet- 


THE    ST.    LOUIS    COUNCIL  loi 

ings  from  Alton.  James  W.  Scoville,  the  honored  lay- 
man of  Oak  Park,  Rev.  Jean  F.  Loba,  Deacon  Mason 
Bull,  of  Ottawa,  and  Rev.  Frank  P.  Woodbury,  whom 
the  American  Missionary  Society  was  to  choose  later  as 
its  secretary,  were  of  this  goodly  company. 

Indian  Territory  for  the  first  time  sent  a  delegate  in 
Rev.  Edward  Morris  of  Caddo.  Rev.  Alvah  L.  Frisbie 
of  Des  Moines  led  the  Iowa  band,  among  whom  were  the 
veteran  educator,  Josiah  L.  Pickard  of  Iowa  City,  Rev. 
W.  A.  Waterman,  Marion,  John  Meyer,  Newton, 
and  the  Rev.  Charles  C.  Cragin  of  McGregor.  Rev. 
Daniel  P.  Kloss,  who  has  so  long  served  faithfully  in 
Arizona  since,  came  from  Kansas,  as  did  Deacon  Ed- 
win Tucker  of  Eureka  and  Rev.  James  G.  Dougherty, 
Ottawa. 

The  expanding  influence  of  the  communion  is  shown 
in  the  coming  of  Rev.  W.  S.  Alexander  from  New  Or- 
leans. Maine  did  not  send  a  large  delegation.  Among 
the  thirteen  were  Deacons  J.  L.  H.  Cobb,  Samuel  L. 
Boynton  and  William  E.  Gould.  At  the  head  of  the  list 
elected  by  the  General  Association  of  Massachusetts 
stood  Rev.  Charles  D.  Barrows,  whose  premature  death 
is  mourned  in  San  Francisco.  G.  Henry  Whitcomb,  the 
prominent  layman  of  Worcester,  Rev.  Egbert  C.  Symth 
of  Andover  Seminary,  Rev.  Mason  Noble,  Sheffield,  and 
Deacon  Charles  A.  Richardson  of  the  CongregationaHst 
were  of  the  party;  which  also  included  Rev.  W.  S. 
Hawkes,  later  to  be  called  to  frontier  work  in  Utah,  Rev. 
Albert  H.  Currier,  who  had  not  then  gone  to  Oberlin, 


102  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Deacon  Frank  B.  Knowles,  the  wise  counselor  of  the 
churches  in  Worcester,  and  Rev.  Michael  Burnham  of 
Fall  River. 

Michigan,  among  others,  commissioned  Revs.  Leroy 
Warren,  A.  Hastings  Ross,  the  able  writer  on  our  church 
polity,  Warren  F.  Day,  Jesse  H.  Hough  and  J.  Newton 
Brown.  The  new  superintendent  of  the  state  home  mis- 
sionary society  of  Minnesota,  Rev.  L.  H.  Cobb,  was  as- 
sociated with  Deacon  David  C.  Bell  of  Minneapolis, 
Revs.  Reuben  A.  Beard  of  Brainerd,  George  A.  Hood 
and  John  W.  Bradshaw.  The  host  of  the  occasion  ful- 
filled the  duties  graciously  as  only  Constans  L.  Goodell 
could;  but  he  had  able  and  kindly  associates  in  Revs. 
Truman  M.  Post  of  St.  Louis,  P.  B.  West  of  Lamar,  and 
Nathan  J.  Morrison  of  North  Springfield. 

Nebraska  took  advantage  of  the  proximity  of  the  place 
of  meeting  and  sent  a  strong  delegation,  led  by  Rev. 
Edmund  B.  Fairfield  of  Lincoln.  Rev.  Lyman  Abbott 
brought  greetings  from  New  York,  as  did  Rev.  John  C. 
Holbrook,  who  was  spared  to  write  his  "Memoirs"  when 
past  ninety  years  of  age.  Rev.  Edward  Beecher,  Rev. 
Frederick  W.  Beecher  and  Rev.  Henry  L.  Hubbell  of 
West  Newark.  Not  only  the  Nation  goes  to  Ohio  for 
her  presidents,  but  our  churches  find  in  the  Buckeye 
State  a  never  failing  source  of  supply,  which  is  well  il- 
lustrated in  the  delegation  to  this  Council.  Revs.  Josiah 
Strong  and  Frank  Russell,  later  to  be  associated  in  gen*- 
eral  work.  Rev.  William  Kincaid  and  Rev.  C.  H.  Daniels, 
both  since  called  to  the  secretaryship  of  national  socie- 


THE    ST.    LOUIS    COUNCIL  103 

ties,  Rev.  Russell  T.  Hall,  and  Hon.  William  H.  Upson 
of  Akron  were  in  the  company.  Pennsylvania,  which,  by 
the  way,  has  never  been  a  strong  factor  in  the  Council, 
had  but  one  representative,  Rev.  Henry  C.  Crane.  Rev. 
Benjamin  A.  Imes  came  from  Memphis,  Rev.  John  J. 
Wooley  from  Pawtucket  and  Rev.  Lewis  O.  Brastow 
from  Burlington. 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name,"  was  sung  and  an 
address  of  welcome  of  rare  felicity  made  all  the  guests 
feel  at  home  at  once.  In  the  beginning  of  the  session 
several  memorials  were  presented  praying  for  a  re- 
statement of  the  faith  of  the  Pilgrim  churches.  We 
can  do  no  better  than  quote  from  the  petition  presented 
by  the  Ohio  delegation.  The  resolutions  were  originally 
prepared  by  the  Rev.  James  Brand  and  adopted  by  the 
State  Association.  The  prelude  reads :  "We,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Association  of  Ohio,  believ- 
ing that  there  is  a  widespread  desire  among  the  churches 
of  our  own  and  other  States  for  a  restatement  of  our 
Congregational  symbol, — a  formula  that  shall  not  be 
mainly  a  re-affirmation  of  former  confessions,  but  shall 
state  in  precise  terms  in  our  living  tongue  the  doctrines 
which  we  hold  to-day."  Continuing,  the  memorial  calls 
attention  to  the  inadequacy  of  the  Savoy  Declaration  of 
1658,  as  well  as  the  much  later  "Burial  Hill"  declaration. 
Upon  the  same  subject,  the  overture  presented  by  Min- 
nesota said,  "There  is  doctrinal  unrest.  Good  men  are 
examining  the  foundations  of  our  faith.  The  creeds  of 
atheism,  infidelity,   and  agnosticism   were   never  more 


I04  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

widely  promulgated  than  to-day.  The  evangelical  creed 
was  never  more  plausibly  caricatured  than  to-day.  If  our 
churches,  through  the  National  Council,  can  have  grace 
given  them  to  make  a  testifying  statement  of  their  belief 
in  the  old  doctrines,  and  again  so  define  these  doctrines 
in  modem  phraseology  that  the  world  shall  know  exactly 
what  we  believe,  their  action  will  stimulate  thought  and 
will  promote  discussion,  the  outcome  of  which  will  be 
favorable  to  evangelical  truth." 

These  memorials,  together  with  an  able  paper,  "A 
New  Declaration  of  Faith,"  read  by  Rev.  Hiram  Mead 
of  Oberlin,  provoked  a  long  and  exceedingly  profitable 
discussion.  It  was  indeed  gratifying  beyond  expression, 
that,  though  the  churches  of  our  order  had  spread  over  a 
vast  continent,  the  unanimity  with  regard  to  creed  was 
indisputably  manifest.  A  committee  was  appointed,  to 
which  were  committed  the  several  memorials,  with  the 
request  that  they  report  to  the  next  session  of  the  Na- 
tional Council  in  1883. 

At  this  point,  Rev.  Alexander  Hannay,  the  Secretary 
of  the  Congregational  Union  of  England  and  Wales,  was 
invited  to  address  the  body.  He  spoke  with  deep  feeling 
of  "the  bonds  of  Christian  fellowship  between  the  two 
great  confederations  of  Congregational  churches,  which, 
though  separated  by  the  ocean,  still  preserve,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  any  formal  bond  of  association,  the  most  pro- 
found reverence  for  the  memory  of  their  common  ecclesi- 
astical ancestry,  and  an  unshaken  loyalty  to  those  prin- 
ciples for  which  their  fathers  struggled  so  nobly." 


THE    ST.    LOUIS    COUNCIL  105 

The  Committee  appointed  at  the  last  session  on  the 
"valuable  and  exhaustive  essay"  on  the  Parish  System 
brought  in  their  report,  "That  societies  thus  organized 
to  aid  the  church  in  secular  affairs,  but  not  controlling 
her  spiritual  interests  or  arrangements,  may  be  impor- 
tant and  valuable  aids  in  building  up  the  Redeemer's 
Kingdom  in  the  world." 

The  failure  to  call  councils  to  install  pastors  had  been 
more  and  more  manifest.  The  previous  session  had  ap- 
pointed a  strong  committee  with  Prof.  Egbert  C.  Smyth 
as  chairman  to  consider  and  report  on  "Ministerial 
Responsibility  and  Standing."  Their  report,  prepared 
with  great  care,  is  by  far  the  most  comprehensive  declara- 
tion upon  the  subject  which  at  that  time  had  been  made. 
They  conceived  the  problem  before  them  to  be :  "First, 
how  is  standing  in  the  Congregational  ministry  ac- 
quired? Second,  how,  under  the  Congregational  polity, 
is  ministerial  responsibility  maintained?"  The  ultimate 
decision  was,  that  "the  certification  of  ministerial  stand- 
ing by  local  ecclesiastical  organizations  is,  in  our  judg- 
ment, a  legitimate  and  timely  provision  for  the  protection 
and  purity  of  the  ministry." 

As  usual,  statements  of  the  several  national  societies 
were  presented  by  accredited  delegates  having  no  votes. 

Dakota  sent  a  memorial  calling  attention  to  the  in- 
creasing friction  and  discord  in  the  Christian  work 
among  the  Indians.  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Noble  read  a 
paper  vividly  showing  the  growing  power  of  Mormon- 
ism  and  the  pressing  need  for  mission  schools  in  the 


io6  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Rocky  Mountain  region.  "To  go  forward  in  our  spirit- 
ual conquest  of  the  New  West  by  way  of  the  Christian 
school  is  just  now  the  most  practicable  of  all  methods," 
he  declared.  The  committee  to  which  the  paper  was  re- 
ferred reported  later :  "We  heartily  agree  with  its  declara- 
tion that  the  evils  are  gigantic,  the  peril  imminent,  and 
the  call  for  some  speedy  remedy  urgent."  "For  more  than 
a  year,"  it  was  shown,  the  "New  West  Education  Com- 
mission" had  been  organized.  They  also  recommended 
that  this  new  Society  secure  from  the  American  Home 
Missionary  Society  "the  hearty  acceptance  and  vigorous 
prosecution  of  the  special  work  for  which  the  Commis- 
sion has  been  organized."  But  should  this  plan  fail,  the 
new  society  was  "heartily  commended  to  the  prayers 
and  practical  cooperation  of  the  churches." 

It  is  doubtless  already  apparent  that  this  session  was 
marked  by  the  presentation  of  able  papers  which  were  to 
have  far-reaching  influence.  Such  a  one  was  the  ex- 
haustive report,  brought  in  by  the  representative  com- 
mittee appointed  three  years  before,  on  "Pastorless 
Churches  and  Churchless  Pastors." 

In  the  response  to  the  greetings  sent  by  the  Congre- 
gational Union  of  England  and  Wales,  was  included  the 
prophetic  hope,  "that  at  an  early  day  there  may  be  ar- 
ranged an  International  Congregational  Conference  to 
promote  the  general  weal  of  the  churches  of  our  faith 
and  order  in  all  parts  of  the  world." 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  Lord's  Day,  the  members  of 
the  Council  united  with  Pilgrim  Church  in  the  Lord's 


THE    ST.    LOUIS    COUNCIL  107 

Supper,  administered  by  Rev.  Edward  Beecher  of  New 
York  and  Rev.  George  H.  Atkinson  of  Oregon. 

As,  at  the  last  session,  memorials  had  been  received 
voicing  lack  of  confidence  in  the  Council,  so  also  sev- 
eral were  presented  at  this  session.  They  were  referred 
to  a  committee,  consisting  of  Revs,  George  Leon  Walker, 
Constans  L.  Goodell,  Samuel  Wolcott  and  Deacon  Chas. 
A.  Richardson.  Their  report  was  adopted.  "This 
Council  has  received  with  great  respect  the  memorials 
....  and  feels  constrained  to  express  its  conviction 
that  the  existence  of  a  National  Council,  under  the  pres- 
ent constitution  and  rules,  is  not  only  a  safe  and  useful 
bond  of  fellowship  among  our  churches,  and  a  means  of 
great  possible  benefit  to  them,  but  is  an  instrument  vin- 
dicated in  its  employment,  and  by  the  churches  generally 
approved. 

"Second,  this  National  Council,  in  the  future  as  in  the 
past,  should  welcome  any  suggestions  which  may  pro- 
mote its  best  efficiency." 

"Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds"  was  sung  as  a  parting 
hymn.  It  expressed  the  rare  fellowship  in  Christ  which 
made  memorable  to  all  who  were  privileged  to  share  in 
its  blessings,  the  session  held  in  Pilgrim  Church  in  St. 
Louis. 


THE  "CONCORD"  COUNCIL 

The   Fifth  Session  of  the  National  Council,  Held  in  Concord,  New 
Hampshire,  October  11  —  15,  1883. 

Moderator,  REV.  ARTHUR   LITTLE 
Preacher,  REV.  F.  A.  NOBLE. 


THE  "CONCORD"  COUNCIL 

No  session  of  the  Council  has  ever  been  held  under 
more  unfavorable  circumstances  than  the  fifth,  which 
convened  Oct.  ii,  1883,  in  the  South  Church  in  Concord, 
New  Hampshire.  Uncertainty  prevailed,  not  only  as  to 
the  time  and  place  of  meeting,  but  as  to  the  gathering 
itself.  Just  where  the  blame  must  be  placed  need  not 
now  be  discussed.  At  any  rate,  it  is  safe  to  say,  the  ma- 
chinery did  not  run  smoothly  in  preparation.  The  at- 
tendance was  the  smallest  of  all  the  sessions  thus  far. 
Only  two  hundred  and  thirty-two  elected  delegates 
presented  themselves.  But,  what  was  of  even  greater 
moment,  the  convention  was  a  provincial  one  to  a  de- 
gree. One  hundred  and  forty-one,  or  considerably 
more  than  half,  were  from  the  six  New  England  States. 

After  half  an  hour  spent  in  devotional  exercises,  from 
nominations  without  remark.  Rev.  Arthur  Little,  of  Illi- 
nois, was  called  to  preside  over  the  assembly  as  Modera- 
tor. Hon  Samuel  W.  Hale,  Governor  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, Edgar  H.  Woodman,  Mayor  of  Concord, 
and  Rev.  Franklin  D.  Ayer,  pastor  of  the  First  Church, 
gave  addresses  of  welcome  to  the  State  and  city.  The 
organization  was  completed  by  the  election  of  the  nec- 
essary officers,  among  whom  were  the  two  assistant 
moderators,  Frederick  Billings  of  Vermont  and  Rev. 
Gushing  Eells  of  Washington  Territory. 


112  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  roll,  as  usual,  included  many  of  the  prominent 
men  of  the  pulpits  and  pews  of  our  churches.  Southern 
California  was  represented  for  the  first  time,  sending 
Deacon  M.  H.  Crafts  of  San  Bernardino,  The  northern 
half  of  the  State  commissioned  Rev.  Thomas  K.  Noble  of 
San  Francisco.  From  out  of  the  shadows  of  Pike's  Peak 
came  Rev.  Warren  F.  Bickford  of  Manitou.  The  other 
Colorado  delegate  was  Rev.  E.  P.  Tenney  of  Colorado 
Springs.  Dakota  did  remarkably  well,  being  present  in 
the  persons  of  no  less  than  five  representatives. 

Alabama,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  had  only  one  messenger 
each.  So  also  Utah,  which  sent  Rev.  Delavan  L.  Leonard 
of  Salt  Lake ;  Minnesota  commissioned  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Page  of  Crookston.  Pennsylvania,  Indiana  and  Ore- 
gon were  not  represented  in  the  Council.  Jonathan  N. 
Harris,  the  philanthropic  layman  of  New  London,  was 
elected  by  the  General  Conference  of  Connecticut;  so 
also  were  Simeon  E.  Baldwin,  the  well-known  jurist  of 
New  Haven,  Rev.  James  W.  Cooper  of  New  Britain,  and 
George  W.  Woodruff  of  Litchfield. 

Iowa,  always  loyal  to  the  Council,  sent  among  others, 
Revs.  George  F.  Magoun,  William  M.  Brooks,  William 
P.  Bennett,  Thomas  G.  Grassie,  who  was  soon  to  take 
the  helm  of  the  Missionary  Society  in  Wisconsin,  Moses 
K.  Cross  and  Charles  Gibbs.  Maine  commissioned  only 
three  laymen  among  the  twenty,  John  B.  Bradbury  of 
Waterville,  Deacon  Peter  E.  Vose,  Dennysville,  and 
George  B.  Barrows,  Fryeburg.  Massachusetts  carried 
off  the  honors  as  usual  with  a  delegation  numbering  an 


THE    CONCORD     COUNCIL  113 

even  half-hundred,  among  whom  were  Rev.  Henry  M. 
Dexter,  Deacon  Samuel  Johnson,  the  helper  in  all  good 
works,  Revs.  S.  Leroy  Blake,  Payson  W.  Lyman,  Ezra 
Hoyt  Byington,  Smith  Baker,  George  R.  Leavitt  and 
Willard  G.  Sperry,  whom  Olivet  was  to  call  later  as  pres- 
ident. An  especially  strong  body  of  deacons  went  up 
to  the  conference,  Samuel  B.  Capen,  Henry  M.  Moore, 
James  H.  Dean,  J.  R.  Carter  and  Lyman  D.  Thurston. 

Michigan  was  honored  in  Deacon  Byron  McCutcheon, 
a  future  assistant  moderator,  and  Philo  Parsons,  Esq.,  of 
Detroit.  Among  the  clergy  were  Rev.  A.  Hastings 
Ross,  W.  W.  Lyle,  Moses  Smith  and  Charles  O.  Brown. 
President  Samuel  C.  Bartlett  was  at  the  head  of  the  New 
Hampshire  delegation,  which  was  the  largest  the  State 
had  ever  had  in  any  session  thus  far  held.  Deacons  Guil- 
ford Dudley,  William  B.  Edwards  and  A.  L.  Judson 
came  from  the  Empire  State.  Revs.  C.  C.  Creegan, 
Samuel  H.  Virgin,  William  E.  Park,  William  L  Chal- 
mers and  Henry  L.  Hubbell  were  of  this  party. 

Vermont  delegates  did  not  have  far  to  go,  hence  sev- 
enteen were  present  at  this  session,  led  by  Rev.  Henry 
Fairbanks,  St.  Johnsbury.  David  M.  Camp,  Newport, 
Stephen  G.  Butler,  Essex,  Joseph  Poland,  Montpelier, 
and  Homer  Goodhue,  Westminster,  were  well  known 
laymen  who  were  present.  Familiar  names  to  many 
among  the  clergy  were  James  G.  Johnson,  George  E. 
Hall,  Austin  Hazen  and  Charles  H.  Merrill. 

"For  Christ  also  hath  once  suffered  for  sins,  the  just 
for  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us   to   God,"   were 


114  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

the  words  of  the  text,  found  in  i  Peter  3 :  18, 
from  which  the  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Noble  of  Chicago 
preached  the  Council  sermon.  "What  I  conceive  to  be 
the  high  and  pressing  business  of  the  Church  is,  to  bring 
men  to  God, — all  classes  and  conditions  of  them  to  God. 
Any  new  interest  or  impulse  in  this  service  is  an  ample 
justification  of  any  Christian  gathering.  Men  may  well 
come  from  the  East  and  the  West,  from  the  North  and 
from  the  South,  and  sit  together  in  conference,  and  bow 
together  in  prayer,  if  they  only  go  back  again  more  in- 
telligently and  earnestly  determined  to  do  what  in  them 
lies  to  bring  other  men  to  God.  Not  a  little  remains  for 
us  in  this  direction.  Our  Congregational  churches  have 
indicated  their  loyalty  to  the  primitive  principles  of  the 
gospel ;  to  liberty,  to  learning,  to  morality ;  to  reforms, 
to  missions ;  but  it  is  an  achievement  still  left  us  to  stand 
unrivaled  in  going  to  the  bottom  of  society,  in  reaching 
out  into  all  classes  and  nationalities  of  society,  and  bring- 
ing them  to  God.  What  a  sphere  for  earnestness  !  How 
becoming  a  high  moral  enthusiasm  !"  • 

Those  who  have  attended  several  of  the  sessions  of  the 
Council  have  more  than  once  expressed  disappointment 
in  the  sermons  preached  before  the  assembled  delegates 
from  a  broad  continent.  The  realization  has  undoubt- 
edly too  often  failed  to  attain  the  anticipation.  The  fame 
of  the  successful  pastor  of  the  large  Union  Park  Church, 
Chicago,  had  preceded  the  preacher.  Suffice  it  to  say, 
in  every  respect,  the  occasion  equaled  to  the  full  all  ex- 
pectations.    Not  a  few  regarded  the   sermon  and  the 


THE    CONCORD     COUNCIL  115 

devotional  half-hours  the  rewarding  blessings  of  the  ses- 
sion in  Concord. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Quint,  the  Secretary  of  the  Council,  re- 
ported 3,936  churches  at  date,  a  net  increase  of  262 
churches  in  three  years.  Two  thirds  as  many  became 
extinct, — a  fact  which  provoked  an  animated  discussion. 
The  membership  was  stated  to  be  387,619,  indicating  a 
net  yearly  increase  since  the  last  triennial  gathering  of 
1,693.  Ministers  in  good  standing  were  reported  to 
number  3,723,  of  whom  1,200  were  without  charge.  "Our 
system  is  a  most  wasteful  system,  in  the  lack  of  facilities 
for  putting  together  the  sufficient  number  of  ministers 
and  the  sufficient  number  of  churches.  We  waste  a 
fourth  of  our  strength."  The  year-books  cost  the  Council 
about  $3,000  each  year.  A  debt  of  over  $2,000  was  re- 
ported paid. 

One  of  the  most  suggestive  papers  was  read  by  Rev. 
George  B.  Spalding  of  Manchester,  New  Hampshire,  on 
"The  Relation  of  Children  to  the  Church."  An  earnest 
and  tender  sympathy  for  childhood  throughout  the  en- 
tire paper  appealed  to  all. 

A  cordial  salutation,  written  by  Rev.  Edward  Everett 
Hale,  was  received  from  the  Council  of  the  Conference 
of  Unitarian  Churches  in  America :  "Like  yourselves,  we 
are  determined  to  maintain  the  freedom  of  the  Congre- 
gational order ;  Hke  yourselves,  while  retaining  that  free- 
dom at  home,  we  seek  for  organizations  strong  enough 
and  compact  enough  for  victory  over  the  common 
enemy." 


ii6  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

As  usual,  the  representatives  of  the  theological  semi- 
naries and  the  benevolent  societies  made  statements  in- 
dicating their  conditions,  needs  and  prospects. 

The  approaching  fourth  centennial  of  the  birthday  of 
Martin  Luther  received  fitting  recognition,  the  Council 
testifying  "to  its  profound  admiration  of  the  man  and  his 
work,  and  to  its  desire  to  unite  with  all  who  devoutly  rec- 
ognize his  eminent  services  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  and 
to  human  welfare,  in  perpetuating  his  memory," 

The  education  of  the  Indians  was  brought  very  forci- 
bly before  the  conference  in  an  earnest  address  by  Rev. 
Joseph  Ward.  Resolutions  favoring  aggressive  temper- 
ance legislation  and  work  were  passed.  One  of  the 
strongest  commendations  ever  given  a  national  society 
was  the  following : — "That  this  National  Council,  in  this, 
its  fifth  triennial  session,  earnestly  renews  its  commenda- 
tion of  the  work  of  the  New  West  Education  Commis- 
sion, and  urgently  presses  upon  our  churches  the  obli- 
gation to  give  to  it  that  prayerful  and  hearty  sympathy, 
and  that  prompt  and  generous  financial  support,  which 
its  past  record,  its  present  activity  and  future  prospects 
entitle  it  to  receive." 

The  Sunday  services  proved  helpful  and  uplifting.  In 
the  First  Church,  at  the  usual  hour  of  morning  worship, 
the  Moderator,  Rev.  Arthur  Little,  preached  from  Gala- 
tians  6:14:  "But  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in 
the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  At  the  close  of  the 
sermon  the  members  of  the  Council  united  with  the 
church  in  the  Lord's  Supper  administered  by  Rev.  Israel 


THE    CONCORD    COUNCIL  117 

P.  Warren  of  Maine  and  Rev.  Samuel  Wolcott  of  Ohio. 
The  pressing  needs  of  disabled  ministers,  widows  and 
orphans  received  careful  attention. 

A  very  valuable  paper  to  all  students  of  the  history  of 
our  church  was  one  entitled  "Congreg-ationalism  in  the 
Southern  States,"  presented  by  Rev.  M.  E.  Strieby.  Vir- 
ginia and  South  Carolina  especially  had  a  goodly  share 
of  Puritans  among  the  early  settlers  and  several  churches 
of  our  order  were  estabHshed.  Some  of  these  organiza- 
tions became  strong  and  prosperous.  Eventually,  how- 
ever, from  various  causes,  all  either  died  or  were  merged 
into  other  communions,  save  the  famous  Circular  Church 
of  Charleston,  founded  in  1690. 

After  the  usual  vote  of  thanks  the  Council  adjourned 
without  day. 


THE  "CHICAGO"  COUNCIL 

The  Sixth  Session  of  the  National  Council,  Held  in  Chicago, 
Illinois,  October  13  —  20,  1886. 

Moderator,  HON.  L.  A.  COOKE. 
Preacher,  PROF.  GEORGE   P.  FISHER. 


THE  ''CHICAGO"  COUNCIL 

The  churches  of  Chicago  had  invited  the  Council  dur- 
ing the  session  sitting  in  Concord  to  hold  their  next 
meeting  as  their  guests.  The  preparations  were  thor- 
ough and  elaborate;  the  welcome  most  hearty.  Three 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  delegates,  representing  4,300 
churches,  4,000  ministers  and  450,000  members  gathered 
in  Union  Park  Church  at  10  A.M.,  Wednesday,  October 
13,  1886. 

Samuel  B.  Capen  of  the  Provisional  Committee  called 
the  assembly  to  order;  Rev.  Smith  Baker  led  in 
prayer.  In  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  the  Council 
engaged  in  public  worship  with  the  Union  Park  Church. 
The  Rev.  Prof.  George  Park  Fisher,  the  distinguished 
teacher  of  Church  History  in  Yale  University,  had  been 
requested  to  preach  the  sermon.  He  chose  his  text  from 
Paul's  6rst  epistle  to  the  Christians  of  Corinth,  third 
chapter*  eleventh  verse :  "For  other  foundation  can  no 
man  lay  tljan  that  which  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ." 
The  theme  was  "Catholicity,  True  and  False."  He  de- 
clared the  great  apostle  was  "a  living  confutation  of  the 
idea  that  breadth  is  incompatible  with  fervor.  Charity, 
you  will  hear  it  said,  can  only  be  gained  at  the  expense  of 
zeal :  the  secret  of  ardor  is  to  see  but  one  side.  Listen  to 
the  marvelous  words,  coming  from  a  man  born  and  edu- 


122  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

cated  as  he  was :  'There  is  no  distinction  between  Jew 
and  Greek.'  Plato,  with  all  his  spirituality,  never  soared 
to  that  height.  He  never  rose  to  that  extent  above  the 
pride  of  nationality.  And  it  is  plain,  in  the  first  place, 
that  the  catholicity  of  the  apostle  is  not  indiflferentism. 
He  does  not  tell  the  church  that  the  creed  is  of  no  mo- 
ment. He  is  no  patron  of  the  scornful  type  of  agnosti- 
cism which  Pontius  Pilate  represented,  when  with  curling 
lip,  he  inquired,  'What  is  truth?'  Secondly,  it  is  evident, 
the  apostle  anticipated  a  growth  of  Christian  theology 
and  ethics  beyond  the  elementary  principles.  The  apos- 
tle thought  poorly  of  that  intellectual  unrest  which  drove 
Athenians  every  day  to  the  Agora  in  quest  of  some  novel 
speculation, — to  speak  or  to  hear  some  new  thing.  Nor 
did  he  put  a  high  estimate  on  the  practical  effect  of 
Greek  philosophical  thought  in  saving  men  from  athe- 
ism and  immorality.  But  to  a  Christian  philosophy, 
neither  his  time  or  mind  nor  anything  in  his  writings 
indicates  that  he  was  averse. 

"What  is  the  one  foundation?  The  answer  of  the  apos- 
tle is  brief.  It  is  Jesus  Christ.  Notice  that  it  is  no 
abstraction.  It  is  no  theory  of  the  universe,  such  as 
philosophy  or  natural  religion  might  propound.  It  is  a 
living  person.  To  the  Christians  of  the  New  Testament 
age,  Jesus  was  a  person  as  real  as  Peter  or  Paul.  So. 
within  the  pale  of  the  church,  we  need  to  bring  home  to 
the  heart  and  imagination  the  living  personality  of 
Jesus ;  to  think  of  him  as  one  whose  conscious,  personal 
life  and  sympathetic  heart  are  not  less  real  to-day  than 


THE    CHICAGO    COUNCIL  123 

when  he  sat  in  the  synagogue  at  Nazareth,  or  conversed 
with  the  disciples  at  the  Last  Supper.  Where  shall  we 
look  for  the  bond  of  fellowship  among  Christians?  Not 
in  any  of  the  forms  of  church  organization.  You  might 
as  well  identify  the  souls  of  your  friends  with  the  houses 
they  live  in.  We  Congregationalists  ought  to  know  how 
to  cling  to  liberty,  and  at  the  same  time  to  draw  a  line 
between  liberty  and  license.  We  ought  to  know  how  to 
combine  intellectual  freedom  with  loyalty  to  the  funda- 
mental truth  of  the  Gospel.  Freedom  and  order  are  both 
ours  by  inheritance." 

Upon  the  calling  of  the  roll,  it  was  at  once  apparent  that 
there  was  an  unusual  proportion  of  men  who  had  not 
before  sat  in  the  sessions  of  the  Council.  Arizona  and 
New  Mexico  were  represented  for  the  first  time,  sending 
Revs.  Charles  B.  Sumner  and  Thomas  L.  Gulick.  Ala- 
bama sent  two  and  Colorado  four.  The  clerical  party 
from  Connecticut  mustered  an  even  score,  among  whom 
were  Samuel  M.  Freeland,  William  H.  Holman,  Joseph 
H.  Twichell,  Burdett  Hart,  Graham  Taylor,  Joel  S.  Ives 
and  Charles  S.  Brooks.  Four  crossed  the  continent  to 
represent  California.  Dakota  had  recently  witnessed  ex- 
traordinary development,  and  commissioned  Revs.  David 
Wirt,  A.  A.  Brown,  Reuben  A.  Beard,  Henry  C.  Sim- 
mons and  Charles  Seccombe.  Rev.  Russell  T.  Hall  was 
the  sole  delegate  from  Florida.  The  General  Associa- 
tion of  Illinois  placed  first  on  the  list  Rev.  J.  C.  Arm- 
strong, the  experienced  Superintendent  of  the  Chicago 
Missionary  Society.      Revs.    William    Windsor,    Flavel 


124  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Bascom,  John  W.  Bradshaw,  Edward  P.  Goodwin,  War- 
ren F.  Day,  Edward  F.  Williams,  Theodore  Clifton  and 
William  A.  Hobbs  were  his  associates.  J.  L.  Pickard, 
Nathan  P.  Dodge,  David  Burder,  O.  H.  Lyon  and  Rob- 
ert Wright  were  strong  laymen  who  were  delegates  from 
Iowa.  The  growth  of  the  Western  States  at  this  period 
is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  Kansas  had  fourteen  men  in 
the  Council,  whereas  Maine  sent  but  ten. 

Massachusetts  sent  fifty-one,  which  exceeded  by  one 
the  largest  delegation  the  State  had  ever  had  in  any  pre- 
vious session.  It  is  noticeable,  in  examining  the  lists  of 
the  several  Councils,  that  the  Old  Bay  State  has  not  prac- 
ticed rotation  to  the  degree  the  others  have.  Hence  we 
find  many  familiar  names, — Revs.  H.  M.  Dexter,  A.  H. 
Quint,  Henry  A.  Hazen  and  William  D.  Love. 

William  G.  Puddefoot,  who  was  later  to  take  the 
United  States  for  his  parish,  brought  greetings  from 
Michigan.  From  the  same  state  also  came  Revs.  Leroy 
Warren,  FrankHn  Noble,  A.  Hastings  Ross,  William  H. 
Davis  and  William  H.  Ryder. 

Rev.  Marcus  W.  Montgomery,  the  large-hearted 
bishop  of  the  Scandinavians,  and  his  successor  in  office, 
Rev.  S.  F.  V.  Fisher,  were  from  the  North  Star  State. 
Revs.  William  H.  Medlar  and  Edward  F.  Noyes  brought 
credentials  from  the  North  Pacific  Conference. 

Rev.  James  G.  Merrill,  since  called  to  the  presidency 
of  Fisk  University,  hailed  from  Missouri — as  did  Revs. 
Henry  Hopkins  and  George  S.  Ricker.  Mississippi  had 
two  seats  in  the  Council  and  Montana  sent  its  first  dele- 


THE    CHICAGO    COUNCIL  125 

gate  in  Rev.  S.  A.  Wallace.  The  Nebraska  phalanx, 
containing  among  the  preachers  Harmon  Bross,  Willard 
Scott,  George  E.  Albrecht  and  Edward  H.  Ashmun,  was 
equal  in  numbers  to  the  New  Hampshire  body  which  had 
Revs.  George  E.  Street,  George  E.  Hall,  Samuel  C. 
Bartlett  and  J.  C.  Rollins. 

One  marked  characteristic  of  the  session  was  that  the 
proportion  of  laymen  was  the  smallest  of  any  so  far  held. 
Several  of  the  leading  laymen  of  the  churches,  however, 
were  present,  such  as  William  H.  Wanamaker  and  Al- 
fred Wood  from  the  New  Jersey  Association.  New  York 
has  never  shown  much  interest  in  the  Council,  but  among 
the  delegates  to  this  session  were  Revs.  Lyman  Abbott, 
C.  C.  Creegan,  William  E.  Park,  William  A.  Robinson, 
George  F.  Pentecost  and  Samuel  H.  Virgin. 

Rev.  William  S.  Ament,  who  has  since  won  renown 
in  China,  was  in  the  Ohio  party,  among  whom  also  were 
Revs.  Josiah  Strong,  E.  V.  H.  Banner,  Julian  M.  Sturte- 
vant,  Washington  Gladden  and  S.  W.  Meek.  Oregon 
and  Pennsylvania  each  sent  two  delegates.  Three 
answered  to  their  names  from  Rhode  Island  and  Ten- 
nessee. Rev.  George  M.  Sanborne  traveled  from  Texas, 
Rev.  Edward  A.  Benner  from  Utah  and  Rev.  C.  C.  Otis 
from  Washington.  By  vote  of  the  last  session  the  list  of 
honorary  members  was  very  much  increased,  no  less  than 
fifty  of  this  class  being  eligible  to  the  privileges  of  the 
session. 

The  organization  resulted  in  the  election  of  Lorrin  A. 
Cooke,  of  Connecticut,  as  Moderator.     California  con- 


126  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

tributed  one  of  the  Assistant  Moderators,  Rev.  J.  K. 
McLean,  and  Tennessee  the  other,  Rev.  Benjamin  A. 
Imes.  A  social  feature,  which  left  only  happy  memories, 
was  a  reception  tendered  the  members  of  the  Council  by 
the  Chicago  Congregational  Club  in  the  First  Church. 

To  review  in  the  brief  space  at  command  the  proceed- 
ings of  this  session  is  a  difficult  task  indeed.  So  many 
and  voluminous  were  the  reports  of  the  many  commit- 
tees that  the  minutes  fill  386  pages,  making  a  larger  vol- 
ume than  the  published  record  of  any  other  session  be- 
fore or  since.  No  complete  index  or  thorough  digest  has 
ever  been  made.  This  task  awaits  some  lover  of  the 
churches  who  is  not  afraid  to  work. 

The  last  session,  in  Concord,  had  voiced  its  desire,  in 
instructions  to  the  Provisional  Committee,  "to  give  am- 
ple time  for  the  consideration  of  subjects  relating  to  the 
pastorate,  the  fellowship  of  the  churches,  and  their  prac- 
tical work."  Seven  subjects  came  over,  also,  by  refer- 
ence to  a  standing  committee.  These  were  Sunday- 
School  Work,  Monument  to  John  Robinson,  The  Pas- 
torate and  Ministerial  Standing,  Systematic  Giving,  Min- 
isterial Relief,  Indian  Afifairs  and  Accessions  to  the 
Churches.  The  Provisional  Committee  submitted  an 
important  report  for  approval,  recommending  six  amend- 
ments to  the  By-laws  and  suggesting  other  changes  in 
the  administration  of  the  conference.  They  made  the 
gratifying  armouncement  that  the  debt  of  over  $3,000 
against  the  Council  had  all  been  paid. 

An  unusual  number  of  memorials  were  also  presented ; 


THE    CHICAGO    COUNCIL  127 

some  of  them  important,  but  the  majority  of  ephemeral 
interest  only.  It  was  a  time  when  the  "Indian  Question" 
was  prominent  in  the  public  eye.  Mormonism  was  rap- 
idly gaining  strength  and  showing  more  defiance.  The 
New  West  Education  Commission,  therefore,  was  several 
times  before  the  body.  Up  to  this  time,  the  Year  Book 
had  been  compiled  with  reports  taken  at  sixteen  different 
dates  during  the  year.  A  petition  prayed  that  the  sta- 
tistical year  might  be  made  to  conform  with  the  calendar 
year  and  thus  bring  about  uniformity  and  accuracy.  The 
Enrichment  of  Worship  also  came  before  the  session  by 
petition.  The  olive  branch  of  peace  and  fraternity  was 
extended  to  the  Free  Baptists,  from  whom  certain  over- 
tures had  been  received. 

An  organization,  then  five  years  old,  which  has  since 
extended  its  beneficent  influences  into  all  lands,  was  of- 
ficially noticed  in  the  passing  of  the  following  resolution, 
"Resolved :  That  this  Council  looks  with  favor  upon  the 
work  accomplished  by  the  Young  People's  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor;  recognizes  the  hand  of  Providence 
in  bringing  forward  this  method  of  Christian  nurture ; 
and  commends  it  to  the  earnest  consideration  of  the 
pastors  and  churches." 

It  was  reported  that  "The  Trustees  of  the  National 
Council  of  the  Congregational  Churches  of  the  United 
States"  had  been  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  Connec- 
ticut the  previous  winter.  This  act  was  ratified  by  the 
Council.  The  Committee  on  Ministerial  Relief  made  a 
long  and  comprehensive  report,  which  had  much  to  do 


128  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

with  inciting  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  heard  it  new  zeal 
for  the  proper  assistance  of  the  veterans  in  the  Master's 
service.  The  gift  of  $10,000  to  this  fund  was  reported 
from  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Helen  C.  Knowles  and  due  ac- 
knowledgment was  made  to  the  executors. 

The  preceding  week  a  very  memorable  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  American  Board  had  been  held  in  Des  Moines. 
Many  had  come  from  the  enthusiasm  of  the  gathering 
to  the  Council.  At  any  rate,  this  session  held  in  Chicago 
is  to  be  remembered  for  the  prominence  given  evangeli- 
zation. Rev.  M.  W.  Montgomery  aroused  a  large  audi- 
ence in  urging  eloquently  the  needs  of  the  Scandinavi- 
ans. City  evangelism  was  as  earnestly  pleaded ;  and  the 
very  satisfactory  results  of  the  Chicago  Missionary  So- 
ciety emphasized  the  plea.  In  this  line  was  presented  a 
paper,  filling  thirty  pages  of  the  published  minutes,  on 
"The  Relation  of  the  Congregational  Churches  to  the 
Work  of  Evangelization"  by  Rev.  George  F.  Pentecost. 
The  theological  seminaries  and  national  benevolent  so- 
cities  all  made  statements  as  usual.  Rev.  Alonzo  H. 
Quint  had  been  asked  to  write  upon  the  question,  "How 
to  Utilize  our  Ministerial  Forces."  The  array  of  statistics 
presented,  defining  the  constant  waste  in  the  practical 
application  of  our  theory  of  church  government,  made  a 
profound  impression.  One  thousand  one  hundred  and 
seventy  ministers  were  without  pastoral  service  and  over 
one  thousand  churches  had  no  shepherds.  In  ten  years, 
665  churches  had  been  lost  to  the  denomination,  and 
during  a  period    that    witnessed  remarkable   develop- 


THE    CHICAGO    COUNCIL  129 

ment  in  the  country  at  large.  "How  to  lessen 
the  loss  of  time  by  intervals  between  pastorates," 
he  declared  a  momentous  problem  worthy  of  the 
best  thought  of  Congregationalism.  After  a  review 
of  the  various  polities  of  different  communions, 
he  unhesitatingly  pronounces  that  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  the  best.  The  diocesan  bishop  is  a 
conserving  power,  and  in  the  office  of  the  missionary 
superintendent  in  the  Western  States,  we  have  what 
most  nearly  approaches  him.  The  consideration  of  the 
theme  had  forced  upon  him  the  "inner  aspect"  as  well  as 
the  "outer,"  the  machinery  of  ecclesiasticism. 

A  resolution  setting  forth  the  increasing  prevalence  of 
divorce  and  deploring  the  evil  resulting  therefrom  was 
offered  and  passed.  It  was  also  voted  "That  all  titles  be 
omitted  except  'Rev.'  'Deacon,'  and  'Professor'  in  mak- 
ing up  the  roll  of  the  Council."  By  formal  vote  the 
importance  of  ecclesiastical  councils  for  the  installation 
of  pastors  was  emphasized.  A  deliverance  was  also  made, 
after  long  discussion,  upon  the  subject  of  "Ministerial 
Standing."  It  was  declared  that  it  is  acquired  by  the  ful- 
filment of  three  conditions:  namely,  i,  membership  in  a 
Congregational  Church ;  2,  ordination  to  the  Christian 
ministry ;  and  3,  "reception  as  an  ordained  minister  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  Congregational  Churches,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  usage  of  the  state  or  territorial  organi- 
zation of  churches  in  which  the  applicant  may  reside." 

The  Council  instructed  the  Provisional  Committee  in 
future  "to  relegate,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  transaction 


I30  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

of  business  to  the  morning  sessions,  and  devote  the  after- 
noon and  evening  sessions  to  the  reading  of  papers,  the 
presentation  of  reports,  and  discussions  thereon."  After 
the  usual  vote  extending  thanks  to  all  who  had  had  part 
in  entertaining  the  Council,  the  following  remarkable 
minute  was  ordered  entered  upon  the  records,  "It  is 
the  desire  of  this  Council  to  express  its  gratitude  to  Al- 
mighty God,  for  the  spirit  of  seriousness  and  charity 
which  have  appeared  in  our  proceedings."  It  was  a  fit- 
ting comment  on  the  most  enjoyable  and  profitable  ses- 
sion the  Council  had  thus  far  held.  After  prayer  and 
benediction,  the  Moderator  declared  the  sixth  triennial 
session  dissolved. 


THE  "WORCESTER"  COUNCIL 

The  Seventh  Session  of  the   National  Council,  Held  in  Worcester. 
Massachusetts,  October?— 14,  1889. 

Moderator,  PRESIDENT   CYRUS   NORTHROP, 
Preacher,  REV.  PROF.  ISRAEL  E.   DWINELL_ 


THE  "WORCESTER"  COUNCIL 

Evangelism  was  the  key-note  of  the  last  session  in 
Chicago  as  spirituality  had  been  of  the  one  which  had 
preceded  it,  held  in  Concord.  This  session  was  to  leave 
an  indelible  impress  because  of  the  positive,  unequivocal 
enunciation  of  the  polity  of  the  churches.  As  each  ses- 
sion has  been,  so  to  speak,  a  sensitive  plate  upon  which 
are  left  pictured  the  conditions,  needs  and  aspirations  of 
the  denomination  at  the  time,  so  in  Worcester,  through 
long  debate,  was  evolved  the  doctrine  which  we  believe 
will  stand. 

Hon.  Lorrin  A.  Cooke  of  Connecticut  called  the 
seventh  session  of  the  National  Council  to  order  Wednes- 
day morning,  October  9,  1889,  in  Plymouth  Church, 
Worcester,  Mass.  The  membership  of  the  churches  in 
the  United  States  had  made  a  net  gain  of  57,000  since 
the  last  session  and  now  numbered  475,608.  There  were 
4,568  churches,  a  gain  in  the  three  years  of  399,  which 
was  chiefly  in  the  North  Mississippi  Valley  States.  The 
Sunday-schools  had  made,  in  that  period,  a  gain  of  'J2,- 
200  scholars,  and  the  churches  averaged  104  members 
each,  an  increase  of  four. 

Cyrus  Northrop,  formerly  a  professor  in  Yale  Univer- 
sity, now  president  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  was 
chosen  to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  the  session. 


134  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Missionaries  "actually  employed"  in  the  service  of  the 
American  Board  were  "invited  to  sit  as  honorary  mem- 
bers" of  the  body. 

At  the  Jubilee  Meeting  held  in  Melbourne,  Victoria, 
resolutions  were  enthusiastically  passed  which  were  for- 
warded to  the  Congregational  Union  of  England  and 
Wales,  calling  for  a  "General  Council  representative  of 
Congregationalism  in  all  parts  of  the  world"  to  be  "con- 
vened in  London,  at  as  early  date  as  possible."  The 
overture  was  very  heartily  received  in  England,  and  by 
the  Mother  Country  endorsed,  and  sent  forth  to  all  lands 
where  our  faith  had  taken  root.  Rev.  Alexander  Mac- 
kennal  was  commissioned  to  bear  the  above  greeting  and 
request  to  the  Council.  He  most  happily  presented  the 
salutations  in  an  address  of  rare  power.  Before  the  close 
of  the  session,  the  Council  appointed  the  necessary  com- 
mittees, empowering  them  to  proceed  with  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  General  Council.  The  result,  as  we  know, 
was  the  First  International  Council  of  the  Congregation- 
al Churches,  held  in  London,  July,  1891. 

The  several  reports  of  the  Treasurer,  Auditor  and 
Secretary  indicated  the  finances  and  work  of  the  Council 
to  be  in  much  better  condition  than  at  any  time  since 
organization.  The  evening  of  the  opening  day  was  made 
memorable  by  an  address  by  Rev.  Richard  S.  Storrs  on 
the  missionary  work  in  foreign  lands. 

The  attendance  upon  the  session  in  Concord  was 
marked  by  the  large  proportion  of  New  England  men. 
In  Chicago,  in  1886,  the  Western  States  were  conspicu- 


THE    WORCESTER    COUNCIL  135 

ous  by  their  large  representation.  In  this  session,  for 
the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Council,  the  South 
was  to  be  prominent ;  not  alone  because  of  the  number, 
but  rather  because  of  the  controversy  that  arose  over 
the  principles  which  should  govern  representation,  and 
the  reception  of  contending  delegations. 

Rev.  Henry  S.  De  Forest,  who  had  before  brought 
the  greetings  of  Alabama,  again  sat  as  a  member  from 
that  State.  Rev.  L.  H.  Frary  came  from  the  orange 
groves  of  Southern  California.  Rev.  Bela  N.  Seymour 
brought  credentials  from  the  Washington  Conference  of 
the  District  of  Columbia.  Revs.  R.  T.  Hall  and  S.  F. 
Gale,  the  veteran  home  missionary  superintendent,  were 
from  Florida,  which  had  had  an  era  of  development 
and  prosperity.  It  is  very  noticeable  in  examining  criti- 
cally the  roll  of  the  Triennials  from  time  to  time  that  the 
lay  delegates  come  almost  wholly  from  the  stronger 
states.  Some  of  the  states,  in  which  our  Communion  is 
weak,  have  never  been  represented  by  laymen.  This  is  a 
decided  weakness  of  the  Council,  and  violates  an  unwrit- 
ten law  at  least  of  our  polity.  Connecticut  chose  from 
the  pew  Nathaniel  Shipman,  David  N.  Camp,  Leonard 
J.  Sandford,  James  H.  Lindsey,  Amasa  Chandler  and 
Samuel  T.  Dayton.  Revs.  J.  E.  Roy,  E.  A.  Adams,  G.  S. 
F.  Savage,  F.  A.  Noble,  N.  H.  Whittlesey,  Charles  L. 
Morgan  and  Stephen  A.  Norton  were  delegated  to  repre- 
sent Illinois.  Iowa  gave  credentials  to  a  score  of  men, 
among  whom  were  Nathan  P.  Dodge,  George  H.  Lewis, 
J.   B.   Grinnell    and    Revs.  George   A.   Gates,   W.   M. 


136  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Brooks,  Alden  B.  Robbing,  M.  A.  Holyoke  and 
Ephraim  Adams. 

Revs,  H.  L.    Hubbell    and    Cyrus    I.    Scofield,   from 
Louisiana,  joined  hands  with  the  Maine  fraternity,  Galen 

C.  Moses,  George  T.  Little,  E.  F.  Duren,  Peter  E.  Vose, 
James  Graham  and  Revs.  Frank  T.  Bayley,  E.  P.  Wilson, 
Leavitt  H.  Hallock  and  Charles  H.  Pope.  The  Old  Bay 
State  again  broke  its  magnificent  record,  this  time  send- 
ing sixty  picked  men.  The  General  Association  of  the 
state  selected,  among  a  dozen,  only  one  layman,  James 

D.  Pike.  Mississippi's  sole  representative  was  the  Rev. 
F.  G.  Woodworth,  who  has  been  so  long  the  guiding 
spirit  of  the  school  at  Tougaloo.  Among  the  Minnesota 
brethren  were  Revs.  C.  F.  Thwing,  J.  H.  Morley,  M.  W. 
Montgomery,  J.  H.  Chandler  and  E.  M.  Williams.  Mon- 
tana commissioned  Superintendent  Henry  C.  Simmons. 
The  General  Association  of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona 
sent  the  Principal  of  New  West  Academy  in  Las  Vegas, 
Rev.  W.  H.  Ashley.  Deacon  Samuel  Holmes,  Revs.  W. 
W.  Patton  and  A.  H.  Bradford  had  come  from  New  Jer- 
sey. Oregon  and  Washington  were  unrepresented ;  and 
Pennsylvania,  whose  representation  in  the  Council  has 
always  been  weak,  sent  but  two.  Rhode  Island  had  four 
delegates,  Tennessee  two,  Texas  and  Utah  one  each. 
An  even  score  of  able  men  hailed  from  Vermont,  the 
strongest  body  the  State  had  thus  far  sent  to  the  Coun- 
cil Revs.  H.  De  F.  Wiard,  F.  G.  Appleton,  R.  H.  Bat- 
tey,  David  Beaton,  W.  B.  Hubbard,  who  had  served  the 
Council  before  as  Assistant  Registrar  and  was  to  be  hon- 


THE    WORCESTER    COUNCIL  137 

ored  by  a  reelection,  W.  S.  Bell  and  W.  B.  D.  Gray  were 
from  Dakota. 

H.  Clark  Ford  and  Lucius  F.  Mellen,  the  energetic 
laymen  of  Cleveland,  E.  W.  Metcalf,  of  Elyria,  Walter 
A.  Mahony,  the  wise  counselor  of  Columbus,  traveled 
from  Ohio,  and  with  them  Revs.  J.  G.  Eraser,  Wash- 
ington Gladden,  S.  B.  Cooper,  N.  J.  Morrison,  Norman 
Plass  and  A.  B.  Cristy.  The  only  woman  to  sit  in 
the  Council  was  Mrs.  Sarah  S.  Fuller,  from  Wisconsin. 
She  had  a  large  escort  in  Revs.  H.  A.  Miner,  Judson 
Titsworth,  Henry  Faville,  H.  D.  Porter,  A.  A.  Berle, 
Luther  Clapp  and  C.  H.  Richards. 

A  memorial  from  the  Congregational  churches  of 
Connecticut,  addressed  "Mr,  Moderator,  Fathers  and 
Brethren"  was  received  and  accepted,  calling  attention 
to  the  relations,  (or  rather  lack  of  any),  of  the  national 
benevolent  societies  to  the  churches.  It  was  stated  that 
"the  facts  not  only  discredit  our  polity,  but  also  threaten 
our  peace."  That  this  anomalous  state  of  affairs  may  be 
remedied,  it  was  most  emphatically  declared  that  "the 
churches  should  participate  directly  in  the  management 
of  the  missionary  work  which  they  sustain."  A  commit- 
tee of  reference  was  appointed.  In  due  time  they 
brought  in  a  report,  embodying  essentially  the  prayer  of 
the  memorial.  It  was  unanimously  passed.  As  one 
reads,  again  and  again  through  the  years,  of  the  action 
of  local,  state  and  national  assembHes  making  practically 
this  same  declaration,  it  is  indeed  most  remarkable  that 
the  boards  of  administration  should  be  so  slow  to  accede 


138  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

to  the  requests  of  the  churches.  Herein  may  lie  one 
cause  of  the  constantly  recurring  debts. 

Interdenominational  comity,  relations  with  Free  Bap- 
tists, and  temperance  were  considered.  The  several 
benevolent  societies  and  theological  seminaries  made 
reports,  as  usual,  through  their  accredited  delegates,  who, 
according  to  the  constitution,  had  every  privilege  of  the 
Council,  save  that  of  voting. 

Eight  years  before,  the  Young  People's  Society  of 
Christian  Endeavor  had  had  its  modest  beginning.  Ten 
thousand  societies  were  now  enrolled  under  its  banner 
for  Christ  and  the  Church.  The  President  of  the  Society 
had  been  invited  to  prepare  a  paper  upon  "The  Church 
and  the  Young."  To  its  reading  and  the  discussion  fol- 
lowing the  session  listened  with  absorbing  interest.  The 
writer  held,  first,  that  "the  church  must  believe  in  the 
young  and  trust  them."  Secondly,  that  the  church  must 
show  "outspoken  devotion  and  loyalty  to  itself."  And, 
lastly,  "the  church  in  caring  for  the  young  must  pro- 
vide for  them  regular  and  definite  work."  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  affirm  that  the  well  known  Society  of  which 
he  was  the  acknowledged  chief  fulfilled  these  conditions. 

Prof.  Hugh  M.  Scott  of  Chicago  Seminary,  with  the 
words  "There  is  great  need  of  more  ministers  tO'  preach 
the  gospel,"  prefaced  a  paper  which  fills  thirty  full  pages 
of  the  published  "minutes"  on  "The  Need  and  Impor- 
tance of  an  Increase  in  the  Supply  of  Ministers."  It  was 
a  stirring  appeal,  to  the  pastors  especially,  to  raise  up 
volunteers  to  be  their  own  successors. 


THE    WORCESTER    COUNCIL  139 

The  John  Robinson  Memorial  Committee  reported 
progress,  and  was  continued.  A  resolution  conveying 
congratulations  to  the  Congregationalists  of  Great  Brit- 
ain on  the  opening  of  Mansfield  College,  Oxford,  Eng- 
land, was  passed,  and  ordered  cabled  to  the  Rev.  Charles 
Ray  Palmer  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  who  was  commis- 
sioned to  present  the  same  to  the  authorities  of  the  new 
institution.  Sociology  as  a  science  had  won  merited 
recognition  in  the  schools  and  the  press.  It  is  not  sur- 
prising, therefore,  that  Rev.  Washington  Gladden  was 
requested  to  prepare  a  paper  on  "Christian  Socialism." 
Brief  quotation  necessarily  does  injustice  to  a  discourse 
that  held  the  closest  attention  of  the  session  for  half 
an  hour.  "It  begins  to  be  clear  that  Christianity  is  not 
individualism,  'Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself,' 
said  Jesus  the  Christ.  Some  foundation  there  surely  is 
for  the  claim  that  Christianity  is  socialistic  in  its  ten- 
dencies. Socialism  is  simply  the  extension  of  the  func- 
tions of  the  State  so  that  it  shall  cover  all  departments  of 
industry.  Especially  ought  we  to  favor  State  action 
whose  purpose  it  is  to  improve  the  condition  of  the 
poorest  and  least  fortunate.  But  it  is  not  the  business  of 
the  State  to  relieve  its  citizens  of  the  cares  and  responsi- 
bflities  of  life.  That  would  be  fatal  charity.  Room  must 
be  left  for  individual  initiative  and  development  of  char- 
acter." 

For  the  second  time  the  resolution  was  passed  request- 
ing the  benevolent  societies  to  unite  in  publishing  one 
periodical.    Work  among  the  Germans  was  presented  in 


I40  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

a  way  that  appealed  to  all  hearts.  The  religious  needs 
of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States  were  pre- 
sented and  a  committee  appointed  to  report  at  the 
next  session.  Prison  Reform  had  a  place  in  the  program, 
as  did  the  growing  evil  of  the  parochial  schools  of  the 
Roman  Church.  City  evangelization,  marriage  and  di- 
vorce received  the  attention  their  importance  deserves. 

The  Council  Sunday  brought  a  feast  of  good  things. 
In  the  morning  worship,  Rev.  Arthur  Little  delivered 
an  address  on  the  home  field  from  Luke  19:  42,  ''If  thou 
hadst  known,  even  thou,  at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the 
things  which  belong  unto  thy  peace !  but  now  they  are 
hid  from  thine  eyes."  After  the  sermon  the  delegates 
united  with  the  members  of  the  church  in  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

In  the  evening  service,  the  Rev.  Israel  E.  Dwinell 
preached  the  Council  sermon.  The  speaker  had  gone 
from  pastorates  in  New  England,  which  God  had  blessed, 
to  the  church  in  Sacramento,  California.  After  a  long, 
prayerful  service  there,  in  1884  he  entered  upon  his 
duties  as  one  of  the  three  professors  in  Pacific  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  the  only  school  of  the  prophets,  of  our 
order,  west  of  Chicago.  Isaiah  55  :  4  furnished  the  text, 
"Behold,  I  have  given  him  for  a  witness  to  the  peoples, 
a  leader  and  commander  to  the  peoples."  It  set  forth 
the  matchless  companionship  and  leadership  of  Jesus. 
"Our  text  presents  Christ  as  the  organizing  power  of 
society.  It  does  not  give  a  result  which  was  reached 
and  ended  at  a  particular  time.     Rather  it  describes  a 


THE    WORCESTER    COUNCIL  141 

process  that  was  to  go  on.  We  are  in  it."  Jesus  was 
first  a  witness  to  the  people,  secondly,  a  leader  of  the  peo- 
ple, and,  thirdly,  a  commander  of  the  people.  The  crisis 
through  which  the  country  was  passing,  brought  about 
by  the  astonishing  expansion  of  the  West,  was  dwelt 
upon.  The  Gospel  alone  can  save.  Our  proper  use  of 
money  conditions  the  result.  And  he  closed  by  a  fervid 
appeal  to  magnify  the  influence  and  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

The  supreme  question  thrust  upon  this  session  was  the 
color  line  in  the  South.  Delegates  from  contending 
ecclesiastical  bodies  appeared,  bearing  their  several  cre- 
dentials. A  decision  was  challenged.  A  very  long  and 
at  times  acrimonious  debate  followed.  Probably  no  ques- 
tion heretofore  before  any  session  had  ever  aroused  so 
much  fire.  It  burst  out  almost  every  day.  For  our  pres- 
ent purpose,  it  is  far  too  long  to  quote.  Fortunately 
for  the  student  of  church  polity,  a  complete  stenographic 
report  was  made  by  the  correspondent  of  the  New  York 
"Independent,"  and  it  thus  appears  in  the  issue  of  that 
journal  for  October  17,  1889.  New  conferences,  repre- 
senting fifty  churches  in  Georgia,  which  had  recently 
joined  the  denomination,  sent  delegates.  Others  came 
from  an  older  body  claiming  to  be  the  State  Association. 
The  entire  matter  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  fifteen, 
which  gave  patient  hearing  to  all  sides.  They  brought  in 
a  unanimous  report,  which  was,  with  slight  amendment, 
adopted.  It  declared  that  no  organization  could  be  rec- 
ognized by  the  Council  which  made  any  distinction  on 


142  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

the  ground  of  race  or  color.  The  delegates  from  the  new 
churches,  who  were  admitted,  pledged  themselves  to  this 
principle. 

After  the  usual  expressions  of  courtesy,  the  doxology 
was  sung,  the  benediction  pronounced  and  the  seventh 
triennial  session  was  dissolved. 


THE  "MINNEAPOLIS"  COUNCIL 

The  Eighth  Session  of  the   National   Council,  Held  in  Minneapolis, 
Minnesota,  October  12 — 17,  1892. 

Moderator,  REV.  ALONZO   H.  QUINT. 
Preacher,  REV.  CHARLES  M.  LAMSON. 


THE  ''MINNEAPOLIS"  COUNCIL 

The  Flour  City  welcomed  the  Council  to  Plymouth 
Church,  Wednesday,  October  12,  1892.  Rev.  George 
H.  Wells,  the  pastor,  and  a  large  committee  had  made 
all  necessary  arrangements.  Three  hundred  and  sixty- 
one  delegates  reported.  Of  these  only  sixty-three  were 
laymen  and  thirty  honorary  members.  Rev.  A.  H. 
Quint,  who  had  earnestly  supported  the  Council  from 
the  beginning,  and  had  been  present  as  a  delegate  at 
every  session,  was  elected  moderator.  It  was  an  honor 
worthily  bestowed.  Very  appropriately  he  might  be 
called  the  Father  of  the  Council.  Hon.  Byron  Mc- 
Cutcheon,  a  distinguished  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  Rev.  George  C.  Rowe  of  South 
Carolina,  an  honored  member  of  the  African  race,  were 
elected  Assistant  Moderators.  Rev.  W.  H.  Moore,  who 
had  so  long  served  efficiently  as  Registrar,  was  re- 
elected. As  his  assistant  the  writer  was  chosen.  Upon 
him  developed  the  keeping  of  the  minutes,  and  by  this 
experience  he  learned  something  of  the  machinery  in- 
volved in  the  running  of  the  convention. 

In  the  evening  of  the  first  day,  public  worship  was 
held.  Rev.  William  A.  Robinson,  of  New  York,  con- 
ducted the  opening  services.  Rev.  Charles  M.  Lamson, 
of  Vermont,  preached  the  Council  sermon  from  Matthew 


146  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

23 :  8,  "For  one  is  your  Master,  even  Christ ;  and  all  ye 
are  brethren."  The  theme,  "The  Church,  a  Covenant 
with  a  Purpose,"  was  presented  with  the  well  known 
ability  of  the  preacher.  "All  Christians  are  under  orders 
and  therefore  must  keep  in  order.  Christ  is  their  author- 
ity and  brotherhood  in  love  and  service,  the  proof  and 
consequence  of  their  obedience.  Our  church,  rightly 
understood,  is  not  a  sect  but  a  union,  striving  for  the 
ideal  of  human  unity.  It  is  fraternity  through  loyalty; 
democracy,  but  democracy  with  a  King.  The  tendency 
of  life  to-day  is  toward  the  definition,  assertion  and  pro- 
tection of  the  social  man.  The  philosophy  and  religion 
of  other  ages  have  given  themselves  to  the  declaration 
of  individual  qualities  and  rights.  The  National  Council 
is  the  formal  and  evident  declaration  of  our  covenant. 
It  is  our  independency  confessing  that  it  can  only  realize 
itself  in  fraternity.  It  is  the  dignified  and  solemn  ac- 
knowledgment of  our  mutual  obligations  to  each  other, 
and  of  our  common  obligations  to  all  men.  Fraternity 
with  a  purpose  outward  is  the  completion  and  secur- 
ity of  the  individualism  of  the  churches.  Our  fellow- 
ship is  the  necessary  utterance  of  our  independence 
and  the  bonds  of  our  covenant  are  the  securities  of  our 
liberty.  Here  is  our  altar,  here  we  are  made  one  in 
Christ  and  in  the  duties  Christ  creates  and  commands. 
The  Council  is  our  declaration  of  the  sacred  authority 
of  the  unity  of  the  Church.  This  unity  is  not  prudential 
but  vital ;  not  formal  but  organic." 

The  attendance  upon  the  several  sessions  had  varied 


THE  MINNEAPOLIS    COUNCIL  147 

much.  463  were  present  as  delegates  at  Albany  in  1852 ; 
and  in  June,  1865,  the  number  reached  502.  It  will  be 
recalled  that  the  first  regular  triennial  session,  held  in 
Oberlin  in  November,  1871,  was  composed  of  276  dele- 
gates. In  the  Minneapolis  session,  as  was  to  be  ex- 
pected, the  West  was  largely  represented. 

Rev.  Stephen  C.  McDaniel,  who  has  written  the  his- 
tory of  the  Congregational  Methodist  Churches,  which 
came  over  almost  in  a  body  to  us,  was  present  from  the 
Houston  Conference  in  Alabama,  with  three  others  from 
the  same  state.  James  L.  Barker,  the  large-hearted  lay- 
man of  Berkeley,  came  with  the  party  from  California. 
Three  ministers.  Revs.  George  E.  Paddock,  Henry  E. 
Thayer  and  Samuel  F.  Dickinson,  journeyed  from  Colo- 
rado. The  pew  in  Connecticut  was  in  evidence  in  Ed- 
ward W.  Marsh,  Lucius  R.  Hazen,  Thomas  E.  Merwin 
and  Hezekiah  L.  Reade.  Rev.  Newman  Smyth,  Thomas 
K.  Noble,  Charles  R.  Palmer,  John  G.  Davenport  and 
Henry  G.  Marshall  were  among  the  number  from  the 
pulpit.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Small  hailed  from  the  District 
of  Columbia.  Chicago  Association  elected  Revs.  M.  W. 
Montgomery,  F.  A.  Noble,  Quincy  L.  Dowd,  besides 
Prof.  Samuel  I.  Curtiss,  William  E.  Hale  and  the  well 
known  lawyer,  Edward  D.  Redington.  Among  the  ex- 
perienced pastors,  also  from  Illinois,  were  Revs.  Wal- 
ter M.  Barrows,  C.  A.  Blanchard,  Warren  F.  Day, 
Henry  A.  Bushnell  and  Julian  M.  Sturtevant.  Few  men 
have  been  commissioned  so  frequently  as  the  last  men- 
tioned. 


148  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Indiana  chose  four  ministers  as  delegates,  Revs.  N.  A. 
Hyde,  John  H.  Crum,  Edward  D.  Curtis  and  Dwight 
P.  Breed.  Iowa  had  thirty-two  votes  in  this  session, 
whereas  Pennsylvania,  Rhode  Island  and  Oregon  had 
only  two  each.  The  pioneer,  Rev.  Richard  Cordley,  was 
among  the  even  dozen  sitting  for  Kansas.  Rev.  John  W. 
Whittaker  was  the  sole  messenger  from  Louisiana,  as 
was  Rev.  Frank  G.  Woodworth  from  Mississippi.  All 
the  way  from  Maine  came  Revs.  Jonathan  E.  Adams, 
Leavitt  H.  Hallock,  James  G.  Merrill,  Charles  A.  Pope, 
Henry  L.  Griffin  and  Charles  F.  Clark.  The  one  layman, 
Galen  C.  Moses,  must  not  be  omitted.  Among  the  Mas- 
sachusetts delegates  were  many  well  known  preachers : 
Revs.  A.  H.  Quint,  Charles  E.  Jefiferson,  Morton  Dex- 
ter, DeWitt  S.  Clark,  F.  B.  Makepeace,  O.  S.  Dean,  A. 
E.  Dunning,  Ernest  W,  Shurtlefif,  Wolcott  Calkins  and 
Arthur  Little. 

Michigan  never  before  had  been  so  largely  and  ably 
represented.  Revs.  H.  P.  DeForest,  Dan  F.  Bradley, 
Edwin  S.  Shaw,  Jay  N.  Taft  and  A.  Hastings  Ross  were 
of  the  number.  Minnesota  chose  two  of  her  princely 
laymen,  Charles  W.  Hackett,  an  honored  business  man 
of  St.  Paul,  and  Charles  H.  Woods,  the  distinguished  law- 
yer of  Minneapolis.  From  the  clerics  of  the  State  were 
Revs.  Smith  Baker,  S.  J.  Rogers,  John  W.  Frizzelle, 
Henry  M.  Herrick,  John  W.  Hargrave  and  Lucian  M. 
Chaney.  Rev.  Charles  A.  Wight  was  commissioned  by 
the  St.  Louis  Association,  having  as  confreres  from  Mis- 
souri Revs.  Henry  Hopkins,  John  H.  Williams,  E.  C. 


THE    MINNEAPOLIS    COUNCIL         149 

Evans  and  Albert  Bushnell.  Oklahoma  took  a  seat  in 
the  Council  for  the  first  time  in  the  person  of  the  vete- 
ran superintendent  of  missions,  Rev.  Franklin  B.  Doe. 
North  Carolina  and  Montana  were  without  representa- 
tion. Revs.  Harmon  Bross,  F.  L.  Ferguson  and  George 
E.  Taylor  were  among  the  guests  from  the  plains  of  Ne- 
braska. New  York  had  a  much  larger  company  present 
than  usual.  Revs.  Ethan  Curtis,  W.  A.  Robinson,  Frank 
S.  Fitch,  F.  A.  Hatch,  E.  N.  Packard,  William  E.  Park, 
Samuel  H.  Virgin,  E.  B.  Burrows,  J.  J.  Hough  and  Wil- 
liam H.  Scudder  are  all  known  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  Empire  State.  North  and  South  Dakota  together 
sent  more  than  twenty.  This  indicates  how  rapid  had 
been  the  development  of  those  great  empires  of  the 
Northwest. 

Ohio  was  represented  by  the  oldest  delegate  who  had 
ever  sat  in  any  session  of  the  Council,  Hon.  Lester  Tay- 
lor, aged  ninety-four.  He  was  escorted  to  the  platform 
and  introduced  to  the  brethren.  Edward  J.  Goodrich, 
the  influential  layman  of  Oberlin,  and  William  H.  Upson, 
the  honored  philanthropist  of  Akron,  were  of  this  goodly 
company,  which  also  included  Revs.  C.  E.  Dickinson, 
Charles  S.  Mills,  John  R.  Nichols,  John  W.  Simpson, 
John  G.  Eraser  and  O.  D,  Fisher.  President  Erastus 
M,  Cravath,  whom  we  must  always  associate  with  the 
building  up  of  Fisk  University,  came  from  Tennessee. 
His  companion,  very  appropriately,  was  our  brother  in 
black,  Rev.  Joseph  E.  Smith.  Two  leaders  in  the  Mor- 
mon kingdom,  the  Revs.  J.  Brainard  Thrall  and  Winfield 


150  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

S.  Hawkes,  were  from  Utah.  Revs.  James  F.  Eaton, 
Wallace  Nutting,  Thomas  Sims  and  S.  B.  L.  Penrose 
constituted  by  far  the  largest  delegation  Washington  had 
ever  commissioned.  Wyoming  cast  but  two  votes  in 
this  session.  Wisconsin,  headed  by  Rev.  Judson  Tits- 
worth,  mustered  sixteen  in  the  ballot. 

"In  the  Cross  of  Christ  I  glory"  has  always  been  a 
popular  hymn  in  the  sessions  of  the  Council.  It  is  of  the 
written  constitution  of  the  body  that  the  daily  sessions 
should  be  opened  by  invoking  the  guidance  and 
blessing  of  God.  Praise  follows  prayer  naturally,  and, 
so  it  happens,  in  many  of  the  sessions,  the  worship  of  the 
brethren  has  left  abiding  influences.  The  Secretary 
made  his  triennial  report,  stating  that  in  the  compilation 
of  the  Year  Book  all  statistics  now  conform  with  the  cal- 
endar year.  The  churches  have  reached  the  full  number 
five  thousand,  a  net  gain  of  417  since  the  brethren  gath- 
ered in  Worcester  in  1889.  But  one  sad  feature,  so  often 
repeated,  is  the  loss  of  one  hundred  churches  each  year. 
The  membership  has  risen  to  525,000;  Illinois  showing 
the  largest  number  gained  in  the  three  years,  4,892,  But 
the  greatest  proportionate  increase  was  in  Washington. 
One  significant  item  was  the  gain  noted  in  infant  bap- 
tism, principally  in  the  West.  The  Interior  makes  the 
best  record  in  Sunday-schools,  625,975  being  enrolled  in 
the  entire  country.  The  greatest  increase  was  among 
the  Young  People's  Societies,  now  counting  145,000 
members.  Remembering  that  our  denomination  has  in- 
creased from  850  churches  in  1800,  not  fifty  of  them  out 


THE    MINNEAPOLIS    COUNCIL         151 

ot  New  England,  to  the  present  strength,  when  the  sum 
annually  raised  for  the  support  of  religion  reaches  more 
than  six  millions  of  dollars,  and  the  average  benevolent 
contributions  yearly  per  member  have  risen  to  $4.52, 
there  is  much  for  which  we  should  be  grateful. 

The  trustees  of  the  Council,  in  their  report,  made  the 
gratifying  announcement  that  the  funds  had  increased  to 
$25,000.  The  perennial  subject  of  "Ministerial  Stand' 
ing"  was  presented  and  discussed ;  so  also  were  the  sur- 
prising growth  of  secret  societies,  the  aggressive  atti- 
tude of  Mormonism  and  the  need  of  wise  temperance 
legislation. 

The  theological  seminaries  and  national  benevolent 
societies  made  their  usual  exhibits  through  their  chosen 
representatives.  It  was  ascertained  that  there  were  950 
Sunday-schools,  in  which  were  45,000  members,  under 
the  care  and  supervision  of  our  societies,  and  yet  not  con- 
nected with  churches.  Hereafter,  it  was  ordered  that  they 
have  a  place  in  the  Year  Book.  The  Columbian  Exposi- 
tion was  recognized  and  a  committee  was  appointed  with 
power  to  act.  A  paper  on  "Systematic  Beneficence" 
stimulated  all  by  a  suggestive  array  of  statistics,  and,  at 
the  close,  a  resolution  was  moved  and  passed  urging  the 
churches  to  "contribute  regularly  to  each  one  of  the  so- 
cieties, and,  so  far  as  possible,  something  from  every 
individual  member." 

The  delegation  from  the  Council  to  the  International 
Council,  held  in  London,  the  year  previous,  made  their 
report.    Four  of  the  number,  originally  named,  were  pre- 


152  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

vented  by  death  from  fulfilling-  the  service :  Frederick 
Billings,  Caleb  F.  Gates,  the  Rev.  Israel  E.  Dwinell,  the 
beloved  preacher  before  the  last  session,  and  Henry  M. 
Dexter,  so  long  our  unmitered  bishop  in  the  editor's  chair 
of  The  Congregationalist.  Since  the  conference  in  Lon- 
don three  members  of  the  committee,  widely  known  for 
their  good  works,  have  also  passed  to  the  beyond :  Rev. 
Alfred  H.  Hall  of  Connecticut,  Prof.  Joseph  H.  Benton 
of  Pacific  Theological  Seminary,  and  Prof.  Lewis  F. 
Stearns  who  delighted  our  English  brethren  with  his 
paper,  "Trend  of  Religious  Thought."  Of  the  report  on 
the  Council  in  London,  we  must  quote  at  least  one  para- 
graph :  "The  papers  and  discussions  were  of  a  high  order, 
and  worthy  of  the  occasion.  But  the  great  value  of  the 
Council  was  in  its  practical  expression  of  our  world-wide 
fellowship.  The  power  of  this  was  felt  by  all.  Degrees 
of  latitude  shrank  to  small  proportions  when  Congrega- 
tional followers  of  the  Master  joined  hands  from  Amer- 
ica, Australia,  Great  Britain,  Africa,  Japan,  Sweden  and 
many  lands.  Our  common  problems  and  peculiar  dif- 
ficulties are  understood,  and  we  can  join  forces  for  a 
united  advance,  as  never  before,  in  all  our  activities." 

The  committee  originally  appointed  in  Concord  to 
erect  in  Leyden,  Holland,  a  suitable  memorial  to  John 
Robinson,  made  their  final  report.  The  memorial  took 
the  form  of  a  beautiful  bronze  tablet,  which  was  placed 
upon  the  exterior  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  and  unveiled  be- 
fore a  large  concourse,  composed  of  the  members  of  the 
International  Council,  who  had  repaired  to  Leyden  for 


THE    MINNEAPOLIS    COUNCIL         153 

the  purpose.  The  sum  of  $500  unexpended  was  voted 
toward  the  erection  of  the  John  Robinson  Memorial 
Church  in  Gloucester,  England. 

Marriage  and  Divorce,  Prison  Reform,  The  Army  and 
Navy  of  the  United  States,  were  presented  in  papers  and 
reports.  Church  History  Societies  were  commended : 
"We  recommend  the  organization  of  such  societies  as  far 
as  practicable  in  all  our  states."  Observance  of  the  Sab- 
bath also  was  before  the  house.  A  declaration  was  made 
favoring  the  general  federation  of  all  Christian  denomi- 
nations on  a  basis  of  mutual  respect  and  Catholic  evan- 
gelism. 

In  every  session,  there  has  generally  been  one  topic 
uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the  delegates — one  subject 
into  which  is  poured  the  experiences  of  the  men  who 
have  come  from  so  widely  separated  regions.  There  was 
one  such  in  the  present  session,  which  overshadowed  all 
others.  The  relation  of  the  benevolent  societies  to  the 
churches  which  sustain  them,  and,  secondly,  the  relations 
of  these  societies  to  each  other,  were  the  problems  of  su- 
preme interest  in  Minneapolis.  Long  years  they  had 
been  bones  of  contention.  The  time  had  come  in  all 
minds  when  a  thorough  understanding  could  no  longer 
be  delayed.  Several  committees  brought  in  reports.  The 
prolonged  agitation  in  the  American  Board  had  perma- 
nently crippled  the  society,  in  that  men  had  been  alien- 
ated, who  would  probably  never  return  to  hearty  allegi- 
ance to  the  support  of  the  Board.  There  was  a  danger 
that  this  feeling  might  spread.    In  fact,  it  was  spreading. 


154  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

No  less  than  eighteen  state  associations  had  by  formal 
vote  requested  a  change.  These  votes  expressed  the 
wishes  of  seventy-two  per  cent  of  the  churches  and  sev- 
enty-nine per  cent  of  the  membership. 

Federation  was  the  cry  heard  on  all  sides.  The  way 
was  opened  for  immediate  action  by  a  declaration  from 
the  directors  of  the  New  West  Education  Commission 
and  the  American  College  and  Education  Society,  ex- 
pressing a  desire  to  unite.  After  prolonged  and  excit- 
ing debate,  resolutions  were  passed  almost  unanimously. 
Thus  a  question  which  had  been  unanswered  definitely 
for  many  years,  and  had  caused  anxiety  and  discord,  was 
very  clearly  settled;  namely,  that  the  churches  hence- 
forth would  do  their  missionary  and  educational  work 
only  through  societies  and  agents  over  which  they  had 
control.  "The  Congregationalist,"  in  speaking  editori- 
ally at  the  time  of  this  action  says :  "We  doubt  if  any 
three  hours  in  the  history  of  Congregational  churches  in 
America  have  ever  marked  so  great  progress."  The 
"Advance,"  "Pacific"  and  "Northwestern  Congregation- 
alist" spoke  in  the  same  vein. 

Two  delegates  from  the  Congregational  Union  of 
England  and  Wales,  T.  W.  Harrison,  Esq.,  of  North- 
wood,  Hanley,  and  Rev.  John  Brown,  of  Bedford,  were 
present.  Moderator  Quint's  brief  speech  of  welcome 
was  replete  with  wit  and  wisdom,  and  the  replies  of  the 
distinguished  visitors  were  equally  felicitous.  Mr. 
Harrison  spoke  of  the  increasing  regard  of  Englishmen 
for  America.    He  thought  we  failed  to  a  larger  degree  in 


THE    MINNEAPOLIS    COUNCIL         155 

getting  hold  of  the  laboring  classes.  Dr.  Brown's  allu- 
sions to  Gladstone  were  received  with  unbounded  enthu- 
siasm, and  in  the  fervor  of  a  Bunyan,  whose  successor 
he  is,  he  plead  for  an  exaltation  of  the  Christ  and  an  em- 
phasis upon  the  eternal  verities. 

The  minutes  were  revised  and  approved,  the  usual 
resolutions  expressing  gratitude  were  passed :  "As  we 
part,  we  shall  carry  with  us  pleasant  memories  of  the 
days  spent  in  these  homes  and  in  this  beautiful  city." 
Prayer  was  oflfered  by  Rev.  Erastus  M.  Cravath  of  Ten- 
nessee, the  benediction  was  pronounced  by  the  Modera- 
tor, and  the  eighth  triennial  session  was  closed. 


THE  "SYRACUSE"  COUNCIL 

The    Ninth    Session    of   the    National   Council,    Held    in    Syracuse, 
New  York,  October  9—14,   1895. 

Moderator,  HON.  NELSON   DINGLEY. 
Preacher,  REV.  F.  W.  GUNSAULUS. 


THE  «« SYRACUSE"  COUNCIL 

The  Minneapolis  session  undoubtedly  did  a  great  work 
for  the  churches — a  work  that  time  has  proved  was  of 
untold  value — in  that  the  relations,  necessarily  intimate 
and  dependent,  existing  between  the  churches  and  the 
benevolent  societies,  and  between  the  societies  them- 
selves, were  satisfactorily  defined  and  adjusted.  But  the 
last  session  was,  nevertheless,  a  weak  one.  The  papers 
and  discussions  were  far  below  the  high  level  attained  in 
Worcester  in  1889,  in  St.  Louis  in  1880,  or  in  New 
Haven  in  1874.  Nor  were  the  spiritual  qualities  equal  to 
the  Concord  session  in  1883. 

The  welcome  accorded  the  Council  by  Syracuse  was 
certainly  warm  and  decidedly  unique.  The  old  railway 
station  had  been  vacated  only  the  day  before  when  the 
train  from  Boston  bearing  the  coming  Moderator,  and  at 
the  same  time  one  from  Chicago  conveying  the  Western 
delegations,  approached  the  city.  Just  at  this  very  hour, 
the  old  structure  yielded  to  spontaneous  combustion  and 
went  up  in  a  most  stupendous  blaze.  Not  the  most  bril- 
liant pyrotechnics  of  the  Council's  most  renowned  ora- 
tors ever  equalled  this  surprising  illumination. 

The  Council  never  before  had  met  in  the  Empire  State. 
Wednesday,  October  9,  1895,  the  snow  was  falling  in 
scattered  flakes,  when  the  Moderator  of  1892  called  the 
session  to  order  in  Plymouth  Church,  Syracuse.  Rev.  E. 


i6o  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

N.  Packard,  in  extending  the  formal  welcome,  reminded 
the  delegates  that  the  first  session  of  the  Creed  Commis- 
sion was  held  in  the  church.  To  this  address  Rev.  A. 
H.  Quint  very  happily  replied.  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley 
of  Maine,  the  leader  of  the  Republican  Party  on  the  floor 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  was  unanimously 
chosen  Moderator.  To  San  Francisco  the  Council  went 
for  first  Assistant  Moderator,  Rev.  C.  O.  Brown;  New 
Orleans  furnished  the  second  in  the  person  of  Prof. 
George  W.  Henderson  of  Straight  University. 

With  the  exception  of  the  phenomenal  Chicago  ses- 
sion, this  was  the  largest  of  all,  three  hundred  and 
seventy  being  registered.  Seventy-two  were  laymen. 
The  component  elements  exhibited  every  variety  of  our 
membership.  It  was  a  representative  gathering  indeed. 
Metropolitan  pastors  and  frontier  missionaries,  college 
presidents  and  inconspicuous  laymen,  distinguished  law- 
yers and  merchant  princes,  mingled  with  obscure  la- 
borers in  the  Lord's  vineyard.  The  young  men  were  not 
so  numerous  as  in  Minneapolis  or  Chicago.  Florida  sent 
as  many  men  as  did  New  Jersey.  The  delegations  of 
Alabama,  Georgia  and  Louisiana  were  as  large  as  the 
body  sent  by  Rhode  Island.  No  woman  was  commis- 
sioned. With  the  exception  of  Massachusetts,  New 
England  was  not  largely  represented.  The  Interior 
States  cast  the  largest  number  of  votes  proportionately. 

The  retiring  Moderator,  for  the  first  time  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  Council,  gave  an  address.  In  the  Congrega- 
tional Union  of  England  and  Wales,  which  meets  twice 


THE    SYRACUSE    COUNCIL  i6i 

annually,  this  feature  has  long  been  a  conspicuous  and 
influential  factor.  Dr.  Quint,  quite  naturally,  reverted 
to  the  experiences  in  the  early  sessions,  and  called  to 
mind  the  honored  men  of  God,  whose  faith  and  labors 
had  made  the  Council  a  possibility  and  a  success.  In  clos- 
ing, he  eloquently  said,  "We  find  our  duty  and  privilege 
in  the  Christian  nurture  of  children ;  in  Christian  educa- 
tion by  Christian  schools;  in  thorough  training  for  the 
ministry  of  Christ;  in  providing  the  preaching  of  the 
Word  for  destitute  places  and  the  erection  of  houses  of 
worship  for  homeless  churches;  in  touching  the  needs  of 
cities  with  Christian  hands;  in  the  uplifting  of  races  who 
cry  for  help,  and  in  sending  out  heroic  missionaries  of 
the  cross  to  all  parts  of  the  world.  What  Congregation- 
alism signifies  to  us  is  the  absolute  supremacy  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  the  equality  of  all  Christians  in  their 
relation  to  him ;  the  responsibility  and  discipline  of 
brotherhood  in  government.  The  Pilgrim  principle  of  a 
spiritual  kingdom,  free  and  unshackled,  carried  forward 
by  spiritual  forces,  and  dependent  upon  the  divine 
power  vouchsafed  to  a  willing  church,  is  the  hope  and 
prophecy  of  victory."  Great  truths,  forcibly  put,  are  these. 
The  Council  was  to  see  Dr.  Quint's  face  and  hear  his 
voice  no  more.  Thirteen  months  later,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight,  he  died  suddenly,  surrounded  by  loving  friends. 

Constitutional  questions  were  again  debated,  and 
amendments  previously  proposed  were  adopted,  making 
the  secretary,  registrar  and  treasurer  full  members  of 
the  Council.     Another  amendment,  providing  that  the 


i62  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Council  meet  annually,  was  indefinitely  postponed.  Still 
another,  changing  the  name  to  "The  Congregational 
Union  of  the  United  States,"  though  it  had  prominent 
men  as  advocates,  was  overwhelmingly  rejected. 

The  Trustees  were  able  to  make  the  gratifying  report 
that  the  assets  had  increased  to  the  sum  of  $81,580.00. 
The  committee  on  Ministerial  Relief  also  submitted  a  re- 
port, indicating  a  very  decided  advance  in  the  work  be- 
cause of  the  efficient  labors  of  Rev.  N.  H.  Whittlesey. 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  previous  session  to 
prepare  "A  Manual  of  Congregationalism"  brought  in 
their  report,  which  was  accepted  and  adopted  substan- 
tially as  presented.  Much  thought,  care  and  time  had 
been  given  to  this  work.  It  has  never  received  the  recog- 
nition in  the  East,  that  its  merit  deserves.  Brief  reviews 
are  made  of  the  history  and  polity  of  the  churches.  Then 
follow  chapters  on  the  accustomed  methods  employed  in 
the  organization  of  Congregational  churches.  By-laws 
and  statements  of  doctrine  naturally  follow.  Forms  for 
admission  of  members  and  letters-missive  are  also  in- 
cluded. 

The  Secretary's  report,  which  is  now  looked  forward 
to  eagerly  at  each  triennial  session,  was  a  graphic  picture 
of  the  three  years  past.  When  the  session  closed  in  Min- 
neapolis, three  years  before,  the  coming  financial  storm 
was  just  appearing.  The  net  gain  in  that  period  had  been 
356  churches,  or  119  each  year.  The  number  added  on 
confession  in  the  period  had  been  104,879,  and  the  total 
benevolent  contributions  over  seven  million  dollars,  or 


THE    SYRACUSE    COUNCIL  163 

exactly  $4.22  per  member  yearly.  The  total  assets  of 
the  denomination  amounted  to  more  than  fifty  million 
dollars.  Of  the  churches  reporting  salaries,  the  average 
had  arisen  to  $1,125.00.  It  was  regarded  as  a  most  en- 
couraging document  by  the  session. 

The  fame  of  the  great  pulpit  orator  of  Chicago  had 
taken  possession  of  Syracuse.  Before  the  close  of  the 
afternoon  session,  Wednesday,  the  people  began  pouring 
into  the  church.  When  the  Rev.  James  B.  Gregg  rose 
to  ofifer  prayer  every  nook  and  corner  was  occupied. 
Would  the  result  equal  the  anticipation?  The  delivery  of 
the  sermon  occupied  just  an  hour.  Contrary  to  his  usual 
custom,  the  preacher  read  from  manuscript.  "Babel  and 
Pentecost"  was  the  striking  and  suggestive  title.  Ample 
vocabulary,  luminous  illustrations,  bold,  epigrammatic 
sentences,  all  expressed  in  a  classic  literary  style,  marked 
the  strong  thinking  of  this  remarkable  effort.  When 
Dr.  Gunsaulus  closed  his  discourse,  one  and  all  felt  that 
they  had  been  intellectually  quickened  and  spiritually 
blessed.  He  had  brought  honor  to  the  Council  and  sus- 
tained the  best  traditions  of  the  Pilgrim  pulpit. 

It  was  in  keeping  with  the  qualities  of  this  memorable 
session  that  the  Rev,  James  Brand,  so  long  the  beloved 
pastor  of  the  large  church  in  Oberlin,  should  read  a  paper 
on  "Present  Day  Preaching."  Few  nobler  specimens  of 
the  traditional  divine  have  our  churches  had  than  this 
grave,  dignified  theologian,  who  welcomed  the  gifts  of 
the  new  learning  and  yet  held  firmly  to  the  old  gospel 
of  redeeming  grace. 


i64  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

He  began  by  quoting  the  remark  of  a  famous  preach- 
er, "The  first  duty  of  the  preacher  is  to  make  men  hsten. 
Modernity  is  important.  My  first  duty,  therefore,  is  to 
try  to  discover  the  rehgious  characteristics  of  the  age  in 
which  we  Hve.  Real  preaching,  which  has  understand- 
ing of  the  times,  is  not  losing  its  power.  Our  time  is 
marked  by  certain  serious  defects;  a  feeble  and  superfi- 
cial conception  of  the  nature  and  government  of  God,  and 
a  consequent  weakening  of  the  religious  sentiment ;  a 
loss  of  reverence  for  law  and  righteousness;  a  tendency 
to  action  rather  than  worship ;  a  decay  of  the  sense  of  the 
guilt  of  sin;  a  timidity  of  preachers  in  declaring  the  con- 
sequences of  sin;  a  heavy  emphasis  on  environment  and 
a  light  one  on  personal  responsibihty."  He  closed  a  pa- 
per which  must  ever  be  accorded  a  high  place  among 
the  many  presented  in  the  different  sessions  of  the  Coun- 
cil, by  saying:  "If  we  can  become  better  Christians,  we 
shall  become  better  preachers." 

The  moderator  presented  Rev.  George  S.  Barrett,  del- 
egate from  the  Congregational  Union  of  England  and 
Wales.  The  large  audience  sprang  to  its  feet,  waved 
handkerchiefs  and  cheered  to  the  echo.  It  was  a  splen- 
did exhibition  of  good  feeling.  "I  bring  the  greetings  of 
the  mother  country  to  its  greater  child,"  he  said.  "Our 
Congregational  Zion  embraces  4,800  churches.  The 
most  serious  question  confronting  us  is  the  sacramen- 
tarian  party  in  the  Established  Church.  The  power  of 
our  churches  lies  in  the  truth  which  we  preach  and  the 
lives  which  we  live." 


THE    SYRACUSE    COUNCIL  165 

Rev.  Edward  Munson  Hill,  since  called  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Congregational  College  in  Montreal, 
brought  greetings  from  the  Canadian  sisterhood  of 
churches.  He  spoke  as  an  optimist  on  the  future  of  the 
work  of  Christ  in  the  Dominion. 

Rev.  Edward  Hawes  of  Burlington,  Vermont,  read  a 
strong  paper  on  "The  Right  Conception  of  the  Church." 
Although  it  was  admitted  that  there  was  some  reason  for 
the  harsh  things  currently  said  against  the  Church,  he 
pronounced  it  "The  grandest  institution  of  the  ages." 
He  plead  for  a  correct  view  of  the  real  purpose  of  the 
Church: — "the  inward  regeneration  of  man." 

In  all  previous  sessions  the  presentation  of  the  work 
and  needs  of  the  benevolent  societies  had  been  scattered 
through  several  days.  In  the  midst  of  papers,  reports, 
resolutions  and  routine  business,  this  exceedingly  impor- 
tant feature  and  duty  had  always  been  hampered.  This 
year,  an  entire  day,  Friday,  was  given  to  the  six  societies. 
From  ten  in  the  morning  until  ten  at  night,  the  en- 
tranced listeners  were  "personally  conducted"  by  "ex- 
perienced guides"  over  and  through  the  widely  scattered 
fields  occupied  by  our  missionaries.  The  effect  was 
magnificent  beyond  all  expectation.  Men  who  had  at- 
tended for  many  years  the  separate  meetings  of  the  sev- 
eral societies  declared  emphatically  that  they  had  never 
known  such  a  day  of  cumulative  power.  "The  Advance" 
of  current  date,  reporting  the  session,  says,  "The  great 
prayers,  the  great  longings,  the  great  faith,  the  great 
sacrifices  and  the  great  heroisms  were  in  evidence  that 
dav." 


i66  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  French-American  College  was  commended  to  the 
churches.  The  Armenian  massacres  received  the  atten- 
tion of  the  session.  Temperance,  Whitman  College  and 
Secret  Societies  were  also  before  the  body  and  suitable 
action  taken  in  each  case.  Arbitration,  Marriage  and 
Divorce,  and  Sunday  Observance  received  attention. 
"The  Methodists  convert  them,  the  Baptists  wash  them 
and  the  Congregationalists  starch  them,"  one  clever 
delegate  facetiously  remarked  in  discussing  "City 
Evangelism."  The  institutional  church  and  deaconesses 
formed  another  topic.  Of  the  former,  Dr.  Judson  Tits- 
worth  declared  it  was  the  inevitable  product  of  the  actual 
conditions  now  prevailing  in  cities.  The  objection  that 
its  methods  are  not  always  spiritual  was  met  by  the 
assertion  that  everything  that  brings  the  kingdom  of 
God  to  men  is  legitimate.  It  was  suggested  in  debate 
that  the  institutional  church  unduly  secularized  re- 
ligion. The  answer  came  promptly  that  these  churches 
show  a  larger  proportion  of  members  received  on  con- 
fession than  others.  Rev.  C.  S.  Mills,  who  had  built 
up  a  large  church  of  this  character  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
followed  in  an  admirable  paper.  He  cited  three  facts  as 
characteristic  of  the  institutional  church :  namely,  free 
pews,  church  buildings  open  every  day,  a  most  pro- 
nounced evangelistic  spirit  pervading  all  its  work. 
When  the  debate  was  thrown  open,  the  most  spirited 
discussion  of  the  session  began  between  two  giants, 
Dr.  Meredith  and  Dr.  Baker.  The  Rev.  R.  R.  Mere- 
dith, pastor  of   the   largest    Congregational    church   in 


THE    SYRACUSE    COUNCIL  167 

the  world,  cogently  protested  against  the  use  of  the 
term  "institutional  church,"  and  "so  drawing  a  line  be- 
tween churches  of  Jesus  Christ."  The  Rev.  Smith  Baker, 
equally  ponderous  and  massive,  as  strenuously  upheld 
the  movement.  It  was  a  tussle  of  a  pair  of  lions  and  the 
delighted  spectators  enjoyed  it  immensely.  It  was  evi- 
dent that  each  one  of  the  valiant  debaters  was  a  large 
institution  in  himself.  It  was  characteristic  of  the  Coun- 
cil, that  after  prolonged  and  earnest  discussion  a  satis- 
factory and  amicable  conclusion  was  reached.  The  ses- 
sion unanimously  commended  these  churches  in  resolu- 
tions :  "The  National  Council  cordially  endorses  the  gen- 
eral methods  of  these  churches  as  susceptible  of  real  and 
effective  spiritual  purpose,  and  welcomes  them  among 
the  agencies  which  the  Church  of  Christ  may  legitimately 
use  in  the  great  work  of  city  evangelization." 

The  theological  seminaries  reported  through  their 
accredited  delegates.  These  statements  indicated  that 
quite  radical  changes  were  being  gradually  introduced 
in  the  courses  of  study  and  the  methods  employed  to 
give  practical  training  to  theological  students. 

Sunday  was,  as  usual  during  the  meeting  of  the  Coun- 
cil, a  day  of  rich  blessings.  Mr.  Dwight  Lyman  Moody 
preached  the  sermon,  on  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  was  a  tender 
yet  searching  inquiry  into  our  need,  and  withal  pro- 
phetic of  the  rare  fruitage  which  may  be  realized  by  each 
child  of  God,  who  seeks  in  Him  his  own  exceeding  great 
reward.  The  Lord's  Supper  followed  the  discourse.  At 
the  table  the  Revs.  C.  M.  Lamson  and  Calvin  Cutler  of- 


i68  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

ficiated;  ten  lay  members  of  the  Council  acting  as  dea- 
cons. All  the  pulpits  of  the  city,  save  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic and  the  Episcopalian,  were  occupied  by  delegates  to 
the  session.  In  the  afternoon,  a  "Good  Government" 
meeting,  which  proved  very  popular  with  the  citizens  of 
Syracuse,  was  held.  In  the  evening,  Mr.  Moody  again 
spoke  to  a  vast  audience  of  men  in  the  largest  theater. 
Another  service  was  held  in  the  Plymouth  Church,  which 
proved  equally  attractive  and  stimulating.  The  theme 
was  "The  Hopeful  Aspects  of  the  Kingdom  of  God." 
Revs.  Charles  E.  Jefferson,  Willard  Scott  and  William 
H.  Davis  were  the  forceful  speakers. 

In  closing  the  session,  the  assistant  moderator  oflfered 
prayer,  "Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds"  was  sung,  and  the 
moderator  declared  the  ninth  session  of  the  National 
Council  dissolved. 


THE  "PORTLAND,  OREGON"  COUNCIL 

The  Tenth    Session   of   the    National    Council.    Held    in    Portland, 
Oregon,  July  7—12,   1898. 

Moderator,  REV.  F.  A.  NOBLE. 
Preacher,  REV.  ALBERT  J.  LYMAN. 


THE  "  PORTLAND,  OREGON  "  COUNCIL 

It  was  not  without  much  hesitation  that  the  Council 
decided  to  attempt  to  meet  in  a  city  so  distant  from  the 
old  Congregational  centers  as  Portland,  Oregon.  The 
die,  however,  had  been  cast ;  and  the  usual  committees 
had  been  working  earnestly  for  months  in  anticipation 
of  the  opening  day.  It  was  feared,  because  of  the  time 
and  expense  required  to  journey  so  far,  few  would  be 
present.  It  was,  therefore,  with  much  satisfaction  that, 
when  the  session  began,  two  hundred  delegates  were 
found  to  be  present. 

Thursday,  July  7,  1898,  in  the  First  Church,  Portland, 
the  tenth  session  was  called  to  order  by  Arthur  H.  Well- 
man,  a  distinguished  member  of  the  bar  of  Boston.  The 
Hon.  Nelson  Dingley,  the  retiring  moderator,  because 
of  pressing  public  duties  in  Washington,  could  not  be 
present.  Upon  taking  the  chair,  the  temporary  presi- 
dent called  upon  the  Rev.  William  Salter,  one  of  the  two 
surviving  members  of  the  Iowa  Band  of  fifty-five  years 
before,  to  lead  in  prayer. 

Proceeding  to  permanent  organization,  tellers  were 
appointed,  nominations  were  made,  in  accordance  with 
custom  without  comment,  and  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Noble, 
pastor  of  the  Union  Park  Church,  Chicago,  was  declared 
elected  moderator.     Rev.  Amory  H.  Bradford  of  New 


172  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Jersey,  who  had  received  only  a  few  less  votes,  escorted 
the  successful  candidate  to  the  rostrum.  Hon.  O.  V. 
Coffin,  ex-governor  of  Connecticut,  and  the  Rev.  George 

C.  Adams,  pastor  of  the  Old  First  Church,  San  Fran- 
cisco, were  chosen  assistants. 

Rev.  A.  W.  Ackerman,  pastor  of  the  entertaining 
church,  delivered  the  address  of  welcome.  He  reminded 
his  hearers  that  this  was  the  first  gathering  of  repre- 
sentative Congregationalists  ever  held  on  the  Pacific 
Coast,  which  now  contained  four  hundred  churches  of 
our  order,  with  three  hundred  and  sixty  ministers  and 
thirty-six  thousand  members.  Grateful  mention  was 
made  of  the  brave  pioneers  whose  rich  legacies  we  had 
inherited.  The  response  voiced  the  pleasure  of  the 
Council  in  being  permitted  to  convene  beside  the  wide 
Western  Sea,  to  conserve  and  cherish  the  noble  tradi- 
tions of  this  great  Empire  of  the  West. 

As  was  expected,  the  Western  States  were  well  rep- 
resented. California  sent  nineteen ;  among  the  number, 
Judge  Haven  and  R.  H.  Chamberlain  of  Oakland,  Rev. 
J.  T.  Ford,  the  beloved  pioneer  of  Southern  California, 
Rev.  H.  E.  Jewett,  the  veteran  statistical  secretary,  Rev. 
W.  W.  Scudder,  since  called  to  superintend  the  mission- 
ary work  in  Washington.  Oregon  cast  five  votes,  and 
Washington  commissioned  a  baker's  dozen,  which  in- 
cluded the  well-known  pastors,  Revs.  Samuel  Greene,  J. 

D.  Jones,  William  Davies,  S.  M.  Freeland,  W.  H.  Scud- 
der and  W.  C.  Merritt. 

Rev.  Asher  Anderson  was  placed  by  the  General  Con- 


THE  PORTLAND,  OREGON,  COUNCIL    173 

ference  of  Connecticut  at  the  head  of  the  delegation  from 
that  state.  Revs.  Joel  S.  Ives,  C.  M.  Lamson,  Charles 
Ray  Palmer,  Lewellyn  Pratt  and  A.  W.  Hazen  v^ere  of 
the  party.  This  session  was  the  least  representative  of  all 
thus  far  held,  and  emphasizes  the  peril  of  meeting  so  far 
from  denominational  centers.  Twelve  states  were  en- 
tirely unrepresented.  Georgia,  Idaho,  Indiana,  Mon- 
tana, Texas  and  Utah  had  but  one  each.  Two  pastors 
brought  the  greetings  of  Colorado.  Maine  delegated 
Revs.  J.  G.  Merrill,  J.  E.  Warren  and  Miss  Mary  F. 
Farnham  to  bear  the  invitation  to  meet  in  Portland, 
Maine,  in  1901.  It  was  noticeable  that  the  Mississippi 
Valley  region  was  remarkably  well  represented.  Pro- 
portionately, through  the  years.  New  England  had  lost ; 
the  Pacific  Coast,  until  the  present  session,  had  not 
shown  the  increase  in  representation  which  the  growth  of 
the  churches  would  seem  to  indicate  probable ;  but  the 
great  prairie  states  of  the  Interior  manifested  decided 
gains.  Is  it  because  denominational  consciousness  was 
more  pronounced  there? 

A.  Lyman  Williston,  William  C.  Strong,  Samuel  B. 
Capen,  G.  Henry  Whitcomb  and  Charles  A.  Hopkins 
were  among  the  influential  laymen  who  crossed  the  con- 
tinent. Others  from  Massachusetts  were  Revs.  Morton 
Dexter,  G.  R.  W.  Scott,  Ezra  H.  Byington,  W.  E.  Bar- 
ton and  Elijah  Horr.  Although  the  attendance  upon  this 
session  was  the  smallest  of  all,  the  largest  number  of 
women,  eight,  were  delegates  to  this  meeting. 

The    provisional    committee    recommended    several 


174  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

changes  in  the  rules,  which  were  adopted  later.  The  pub- 
lishing committee  reported  that  the  present  demands  re- 
quire an  edition  of  ii,ooo  annually  of  the  Year  Book, 
which  would  thereafter  be  distributed  mostly  by  express. 
Secretary  Hazen's  triennial  report  was  especially  valu- 
able, and  it  proved  to  be  the  last  he  was  to  make.  Feel- 
ingly he  referred  to  the  decease  of  his  honored  predeces- 
sor in  office,  Dr.  Quint.  The  churches  numbered  5,614, 
a  net  gain  of  273  in  the  three  years ;  277  had  ceased  to 
exist  in  that  time.  The  membership  had  increased  to 
625,864.  Of  this  total  the  East  had  more  than  one-half, 
the  Interior  more  than  a  third,  and  the  West  less  than 
one-eighth.  Sunday-schools,  in  the  period,  gained  only 
7,769  and  the  benevolences  showed  a  decrease. 

David  N.  Camp  of  Connecticut,  who  had  served  the 
Council  acceptably  for  many  years  as  auditor,  again 
made  his  report  upon  the  statement  which  had  been  sub- 
mitted previously  by  Samuel  B.  Forbes,  the  treasurer. 
It  indicated  the  increasing  volume  of  business  that  the 
Council  is  called  upon  to  perform,  that  the  disburse- 
ments exceeded  $42,000.  The  finance  committee  re- 
quested the  churches  to  pay  two  cents  per  member  an- 
nually hereafter.  The  trustees  of  the  Council  made  the 
happy  announcement  that  the  fund  for  ministerial  relief 
amounted  to  $109,000. 

Rev.  Charles  Ray  Palmer  reported  as  committee  of 
the  Council  on  the  John  Robinson  Memorial  Church  in 
Gainsborough,  England.  The  site  and  edifice  cost  about 
$35,000.    This  church  and  the  tablet  in  Leyden  fittingly 


THE  PORTLAND,  OREGON,  COUNCIL    175 

commemorate  the  name  of  him  who  was  indeed  a  father 
in  Israel.  Dr.  Mackennal,  delegate  from  the  Congrega- 
tional Union  of  England  and  Wales,  addressed  the  house. 
The  reception  accorded  him  was  both  dramatic  and  most 
cordial,  the  audience  rising  with  tumultuous  applause. 
It  was  in  keeping  with  the  manner  in  which  the  Council's 
delegate,  the  Rev.  Philip  S.  Moxom,  had  been  received 
by  the  Union  in  London,  in  the  spring. 

The  committee  appointed  tO'  make  suitable  provision 
for  the  International  Council  the  following  year  in  Boston 
reported  reasonable  progress.  Rev.  A.  H.  Bradford  at 
this  point  read  a  luminous  paper  on  "The  International 
Mission  of  Congregationalism."  It  was  conceded  that 
no  one  in  America  was  better  fitted  by  experience  and 
sympathy  than  the  speaker  to  write  upon  so  broad  a 
theme.  "The  days  of  denominationalism  are  numbered. 
The  old  style  of  Christian,  who  is  sure  of  his  sect  but  not 
sure  whether  he  is  a  follower  of  Christ,  has  had  his  day 
and  must  cease  to  be.  Yet  there  is  another  side  to  the 
subject.  The  Pilgrims  had  a  mission  in  their  day,  and 
their  children  have  a  mission  in  the  present.  What  is 
the  international  mission  of  Congregationalism?  There 
is  but  one  mission  for  any  church,  whatever  its  name, 
and  that  is  the  promotion  of  the  kingdom  of  God." 

The  above  naturally  introduced  the  succeeding  paper 
by  the  moderator,  "Congregationalism  in  the  Making  of 
the  Nation."  This  address  also  powerfully  moved  the 
audience.  "Congregationalism  is  not  the  only  important 
factor  or  influence  which  has  entered  into  the  shaping  of 


176  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

our  nation.  But  it  still  remains  to  be  said,  that  the  ideas 
which  underlie  our  Congregationalism  and  give  to  it  the 
distinctive  features  which  characterize  its  form  and  life 
have  had  a  unique  and  traceable  part  in  the  making  of 
our  nation."  He  then  proceeded  to  portray  graphically 
the  Puritan's  regard  for  the  equal  rights  of  men  and  the 
necessity  for  constitutional  government.  The  second 
half  elaborated  the  influence  which  our  churches  have 
had  on  the  public  weal  because  of  the  schools,  colleges 
and  universities  largely  founded  and  sustained  by  our 
people. 

Two  papers  were  read,  written  by  persons  not  present, 
on  the  temperance  situation.  The  papers  themselves 
were  unobjectionable,  but  the  feeling  of  the  Council  is 
shown  in  the  passing  at  once  of  the  resolution : — "That 
no  more  papers  be  read  which  have  been  prepared  by 
persons  not  present."  Divorce,  gambling,  secret  socie- 
ties and  prison  reform  were  all  presented  by  reports  from 
standing  committees.  Some  of  these  committees  had 
been  standing  so  many  years  that  it  was  a  merciful  act 
in  the  Council  to  discharge  them  from  further  service, 
and  thereby  relieve  the  docket  of  the  future  from  the 
painful  necessity  of  hearing  twice-told  tales. 

Because  of  an  abuse  which  had  very  evidently  been 
growing,  the  Council,  by  amending  a  by-law,  took  drastic 
measures :  "Every  morning  and  evening  shall  be  given 
to  meetings  of  a  specifically  religious,  rather  than  busi- 
ness, character."  The  general  subject,  "Ministerial 
Standing  and  Training"  engaged  attention  through  one 


THE  PORTLAND,  OREGON,  COUNCIL    177 

morning  session.  After  long  and  earnest  discussion,  it 
was  voted :  "That  tO'  the  resohitions  on  ministerial  stand- 
ing adopted  in  1886,  in  Chicago,  be  added,  'That,  in 
the  transfer  of  ministerial  membership  .  .  .  the  gaining 
of  new  membership  is  ecclesiastically  impossible  until  the 
applicant  shall  have  been  fully  released  from  his  previ- 
ous ecclesiastical  membership.' " 

"Common  Grounds  of  Belief  for  Christian  Thinkers" 
was  the  title  of  a  paper  read  by  Rev.  E.  S.  Hill,  of  Iowa. 
Prof.  Henry  C.  King,  of  Oberlin,  followed  with  an  ad- 
dress upon  the  same  vital  subject.  By  far  the  longest 
paper  presented  to  the  session  v/as  by  Samuel  B.  Capen 
of  Boston,  on  "Modern  Methods  in  Missionary  Work." 
Some  stimulating  facts  were  made  plain : — "The  churches 
are  increasing  their  gifts  far  out  of  proportion  to  the 
growth  of  population  or  to  the  total  national  wealth. 
The  gifts  to  missions  in  1880  were  $8,000,000;  in  1890, 
they  were  $14,000,000, — a  growth  far  beyond  that  of 
population.  In  the  last  seventy  years  the  income  of  the 
missionary  societies  has  been  multiplied  twenty  fold." 
The  title  was  very  misleading,  as  the  paper  did  not  deal 
at  all  with  missionary  work  on  the  field,  but,  rather,  the 
methods  to  be  employed  among  the  churches  to  secure 
the  money  necessary  to  carry  forward  the  work  at  home 
and  abroad.  This  paper  later  was  widely  distributed ; 
and  its  wise  suggestions  have  been  put  into  general 
practice. 

Several  formal  invitations  had  been  extended  to  the 
Council  to  attend  places  and  institutions.    Only  one  was 


178  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

accepted.  Saturday  afternoon,  a  special  train  carried 
five  hundred  passengers  to  Forest  Grove,  the  site  of 
Pacific  University.  The  afternoon  and  evening  all  too 
quickly  passed  with  receptions,  speeches,  music  and  a 
bountiful  repast.  A  touching  scene  was  the  planting  on 
the  campus  of  a  mayflower,  carefully  brought  by  the 
Council  party  from  Massachusetts. 

Sunday  morning  the  Council  convened  for  public 
worship.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Albert 
J.  Lyman,  pastor  of  the  South  Church,  Brooklyn,  New 
York ;  after  which  the  delegates  united  with  the  church 
in  the  Lord's  Supper.  Dr.  Lyman  chose  as  his  text,  "He 
is  our  peace,"  Ephesians  2:14;  the  theme  being  "The 
Spirit  of  Mediation  in  Modern  Congregationalism."  The 
spirit  of  harmony  which  pervaded  the  session  gave  a  fit- 
ting setting  to  this  wholesome  message  of  good  cheer 
and  peace.  Not  only  the  theme  of  the  sermon  but  the 
personality  of  the  preacher  accorded  to  a  very  rare  de- 
gree with  the  tenor  of  the  hour.  "The  glory  of  this  pow- 
erful letter  to  the  Ephesians  is  its  Christology.  The 
apostle  is  speaking,  let  us  continue  to  remember,  not  of 
the  primary  mediation  of  Christ  as  between  God  and 
man,  but  of  that  secondary  mediation,  which  through 
Christ  is  accomplished  between  different  parties  of  men. 
Am  I  mistaken,  honored  brethren,  to  whom  it  is  my 
high  privilege  to  speak  to-day,  in  believing  that  some- 
thing of  the  spirit  of  a  mediation  not  dissimilar  is  both 
the  supreme  need  and  the  supreme  note  of  modern 
Christendom ;  and  that  in  this  country  the  Congrega- 


THE  PORTLAND,  OREGON,  COUNCIL    179 

tional  churches  of  America  are  pecuHarly  called  in  the 
providence  of  God  to  illustrate  the  spirit  of  such  media- 
tion in  our  time?" 

These  words,  coming  as  they  did  from  the  nephew  of 
Rev.  Horace  Lyman,  the  first  pastor  of  the  church  in 
which  the  Council  was  assembled  as  guest,  had  peculiar 
weight  and  significance.  In  closing,  this  long-beloved 
pastor  of  Brooklyn  exclaimed :  "Christianity  on  its  hu- 
man side  is  comradeship  raised  to  the  level  of  consecra- 
tion. Let  us  be  marching  men,  not  sitting  too  long  by 
last  night's  camp-fires.  God  is  with  us,  Christ  is  with  us. 
This  is  the  creed  of  the  Christian ;  this  the  inspired  optim- 
ism of  St.  Paul.  'For  if  that  which  is  done  away  was 
glorious,  much  more  that  which  remaineth  is  glorious.' " 

Sunday  evening,  Rev.  F.  T.  Bayley,  of  Colorado,  and 
Rev.  Alexander  Mackennal,  of  England,  spoke  to  a 
crowded  house  on  Federation,  which  the  first  speaker 
declared  to  be  the  greatest  present  need  of  Protestant- 
ism. "Sects  have  sprung  up  like  mushrooms  on  a  dung- 
heap."  A  telegram  conveying  the  greetings  of  the 
Council  was  sent  to  President  McKinley;  another  to 
the  churches  of  Hawaii,  welcoming  them  to  the  brother- 
hood of  the  States,  and  expressing  the  hope  that  their 
messengers  might  be  present  as  delegates  in  the  future 
sessions. 

A  new  subject  in  the  sessions  of  the  Council — the  won- 
der is  that  it  had  not  long  ago  been  presented — "How  to 
Save  the  Property  of  Disbanded  Churches,"  was  treated 
by  Rev.  I.  W.  Metcalf  of  Ohio.    His  paper  teemed  with 


i8o  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

facts,  some  of  them  of  amazing  proportions.  The  property 
of  the  Congregational  churches  was  stated  to  exceed  fifty 
millions  of  dollars.  But  the  financial  losses  have  been  as- 
tounding ;  in  Connecticut,  no  less  than  a  million  dollars, 
"by  neglect  of  business  precautions."  In  the  State  of 
Michigan  half  of  the  Congregational  churches  organized 
have  become  extinct.  Ohio  has  lost  162,  All  churches 
which  are  independent,  the  Baptist,  Christian  and  Con- 
gregational, are  especially  liable  to  losses.  How  to 
secure  property  for  the  churches  in  perpetuity  is  the 
pressing  problem.  The  writer  called  attention  to  the 
very  large  sums  saved  to  the  denomination  by  the  prac- 
tical business  methods  of  the  Church  Building  Society; 
and  also  it  explained  how  efficiently  the  National  Coun- 
cil might  administer  denominational  trusts. 

The  color  question,  over  which  so  many  controversies 
had  occurred  in  previous  years,  again  came  up  in  this 
session.  The  discussions,  which  were  long,  and  at  times 
very  animated,  can  be  found  in  full  in  stenographic  re- 
ports of  the  Portland  "Oregonian"  of  current  dates. 
Suffice  it  to  say,  the  white  and  colored  churches  in  Ala- 
bama had  failed  to  form  one  state  association.  Both  sent 
delegates.  The  Council  refused  to  receive  either  dele- 
gation, but  permitted  them  to  sit  as  honorary  members. 
In  other  words,  Alabama  was  plainly  told  to  adjust  her 
own  difficulties. 

A  report  presented  by  a  committee  on  the  American 
Bible  Society  provoked  an  interesting  debate.  It  was 
evident  that  the  Society  had  lost  to  a  degree  the  full  con- 


THE  PORTLAND,  OREGON,  COUNCIL    i8i 

fidence  of  a  large  majority  of  the  Council.  Resolutions 
were  finally  passed  requesting  the  Society  to  use  "great 
care  in  the  selection  of  district  agents"  and  to  "publish 
as  soon  as  practicable,  an  edition  of  the  Bible  in  the  Re- 
vised Version."  "Inasmuch  as  this  Society  asks  for  the 
support  of  our  churches,  we  respectfully  request  that  it 
make  annual  statements  covering  a  more  detailed  ac- 
count of  its  assets,  funds,  receipts,  and  expenditures." 

It  was  to  be  expected  that  the  Council,  in  meeting  for 
the  first  time  in  the  Western  half  of  the  Continent,  would 
give  a  due  proportion  of  thought  and  time  to  retrospect. 
The  pioneers  had  no  past ;  history,  precedent  and  tradi- 
tion were  still  in  the  future.  Now,  after  a  little  more 
than  half  a  century,  it  was  apparent  that  Congregation- 
alism had  reached  self-consciousness.  Too  long,  there 
had  been  Congregational  churches  scattered  through- 
out these  wide  Pacific  States  without  Congregational- 
ism. One  of  the  most  profitable  features  of  this  session 
was  the  review  of  the  work  of  our  churches  on  the  Pa- 
cific Coast.  Secretary  George  M.  Boynton  of  Boston 
wrote  of  the  Sunday-schools  of  this  great  region.  One 
of  the  most  valuable  papers  to  the  student  of  the  history 
of  our  churches  ever  prepared  by  the  request  of  the 
Council  was  the  one  written  by  Rev.  Myron  Eells,  "Re- 
ligious Movements  among  the  Indians  of  the  Pacific 
Coast."  In  it  are  preserved  data  which  could  be  found 
with  the  greatest  diflftculty,  if  at  all,  elsewhere. 

Rev.  William  C.  Kantner,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Salem,  Oregon,  read  a  carefully  prepared  paper,  "The 


i82  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Religious  Movements  on  the  Pacific  Coast."  The  first 
Christian  service  held  was  conducted  by  the  chaplain 
of  an  English  vessel,  June  24,  1579.  What  is  called  the 
Prayer-Book  Cross,  a  beautiful  memorial  erected  by 
George  W.  Childs,  of  Philadelphia,  now  marks  the  spot  in 
Golden  Gate  Park,  San  Francisco.  From  the  beginning, 
he  thus  traced  the  growth  of  Christianity  on  the  Coast 
down  to  the  present,  until  the  one  has  become  a  thou- 
sand. "There  are  now  65,000  Methodists,  35,000  Pres- 
byterians, 31,000  Disciples,  30,000  Baptists  and  28,000 
Congregationalists  in  the  three  states,  California,  Ore- 
gon and  Washington."  Professor  George  Mooar,  the  be- 
loved teacher  for  so  many  years  in  the  Pacific  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  Oakland,  California,  also  read  a  paper  on 
the  same  subject.  The  treatment  was  equally  learned 
but  very  different,  closing  with  the  following  prophetic 
words :  "The  movements  on  this  side  of  the  continent 
are  yet  to  be  greater  than  the  pioneers  dreamed,  and  only 
the  learning  which  has  the  deep  inspiration  of  our  divine 
Lord  is  adequate  to  direct  them." 

The  usual  vote  of  thanks  was  heartily  passed ;  the 
minutes  were  revised  and  approved.  Rev.  J.  S.  Griffin, 
ninety-one  years  of  age,  and  pastor  of  the  first  Congre- 
gational church  organized  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
led  in  a  fervent  prayer  and  pronounced  the  benediction. 
The  Moderator  thereupon  declared  the  tenth  session  of 
the  National  Council  dissolved. 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  NATIONAL 
COUNCIL 

Salem  Covenant  1636. 
'*  Wee  bynd  ourselves  to  studdy  the  advancement 
of  the  Gospell  in  all  truth  and  peace,  both  in  regard 
of  those  that  are  within,  or  without,  noe  way  sleight- 
ing  our  sister  churches,  but  useing  theire  Counsell  as 
need  shalbe  ". 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  NATIONAL 
COUNCIL 

Congregationalism  is  the  happy  medium  between  two 
apparently  irreconcilable  principles,  Independency  and 
Presbyterianism,  These  long  struggled  for  supremacy. 
In  the  very  beginning  of  the  history  of  the  Pilgrim 
churches  the  latter  seemed  to  be  the  stronger.  Then 
followed  a  long  period  in  which  the  former  was  in  the 
ascendency.  At  present,  some  discern  tendencies  to- 
ward the  earlier  interpretations  of  polity.  Congrega- 
tionalism is  a  compromise  found  in  the  golden  mean 
which  happily  conserves  the  best  elements  in  both.  Con- 
gregationalism cannot  live  without  being  free,  and  yet 
authority  is  essential  to  its  life.  The  sovereignty  of  each 
single,  local  church  is  a  prerequisite;  and  yet  to  main- 
tain properly  that  sovereign  authority  fellowship  with 
sister  churches  of  the  same  faith  and  practice  is  neces- 
sary. 

All  Christians,  for  our  present  purposes,  may  be  di- 
vided into  two  classes ;  namely,  those  who  hold  that  Je- 
sus, the  Founder  of  Christianity,  first  instituted  the 
Church,  an  ecclesiastical  organization,  simple,  yet  at  the 
time  complete  in  itself,  and  then  went  forth  with  his 
chosen  companions  to  preach  that  the  Kingdom  of  God 
was  at  hand.    Second,  those  who  believe  that  Christ,  in 


i86  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

the  beginning,  proclaimed  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation 
to  sinful  men  and  the  uniting  of  his  disciples  in  the  bonds 
of  a  new  brotherhood  naturally  followed  as  a  normal 
growth.  Was  the  Church  an  end  in  itself  or  means  to 
an  end?  Which  did  the  Saviour  regard  of  paramount 
importance,  the  Church  or  the  work  which  the  institu- 
tion was  to  do? 

Churchmen,  however  doctrinally  "high"  they  may  be, 
are  forced  to  admit  that  the  primitive  organization  of 
the  Christian  Church,  whatever  be  its  significance,  was 
scarcely  more  than  a  voluntary  fraternity.  Brotherhood, 
possibly  better  than  any  other  word  we  may  use,  defines 
its  character.  Officers  there  were  none  in  the  Apostolic 
company.  True,  to  their  beloved  chief,  loyalty  was  freely 
accorded.  One  also  was  chosen  to  carry  the  bag  as 
treasurer.  Equality  in  all  their  relations  was  very 
marked.  They  were  brethren.  Again,  they  were  so 
fully  taken  up  with  what  they  conceived  to  be  their  su- 
preme duty,  evangelization,  that  little  thought  was  ap- 
parently given  to  the  external  form  of  the  union  which 
their  common  purpose  and  love  had  unconsciously 
formed.  The  tragic  death  of  Judas,  the  traitor,  forced 
upon  them  the  necessity  of  choosing  a  successor.  In 
the  election  of  Matthias,  the  pure  democracy  of  the  little 
group  is  plainly  shown.  Each  one  of  the  apostles  had  a 
voice  and  a  vote  in  the  result.  But  the  formality  was 
held  strictly  in  abeyance.  They  believed  whatever  or- 
ganization was  necessary  was  a  manifestation,  not  the 
cause  of  spiritual  life.    And  in  studying  the  New  Testa- 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      187 

ment,  a  portion  of  which  these  same  men  were  to  be  in- 
spired to  write,  we  see  that  the  Church,  in  its  last  anal- 
ysis, was  not  the  source  of  authority  but  its  agent.  Ma- 
chinery has  never  generated  energy ;  it  expends  energy 
and  thus  transmits  power.  Polity  is  not  the  cause  of  re- 
ligious life,  but  its  effect.  A  true  church  is  a  develop- 
ment, not  a  manufactured  thing;  it  is  an  organism,  not 
an  organization. 

The  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  written  by  Luke,  indicates 
that  the  early  Christian  churches  were  all  local,  and  not 
diocesan,  provincial  or  national.  The  believers  in  Christ 
in  a  community,  town  or  city  were  the  constituent  ele- 
ments in  the  new  organization.  It  was,  therefore,  munic- 
ipal, or  limited  to  the  confines  of  a  neighborhood.  In 
this,  it  found  its  prototype  in  the  Jewish  synagogue,  af- 
ter which  the  Christian  Church  in  many  respects  was 
patterned.  Each  church  was  independent ;  and  yet,  so 
great  was  the  need  of  fellowship  because  of  weakness,  it 
maintained  communion  with  other  similar  churches. 
My  honored  teacher.  Professor  George  Park  Fisher, 
says  in  writing  of  this  period  in  his  well  known  work, 
"The  Beginnings  of  Christianity,"  "While  the  churches 
did  not  attempt  to  govern  one  another,  they  held  them- 
selves at  liberty  to  address  to  one  another  words  of  coun- 
sel and  rebuke,  as  well  as  of  comfort  in  afifiiction."  He 
then  cites  the  case  of  the  epistle  of  Clement  of  Rome  to 
the  Corinthians.  The  name  of  the  author  of  this  im- 
portant letter  does  not  appear  at  all.  He  writes  from 
and  for  the  Church  in  Rome  of  which  he  was  pastor.    It 


i88  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

was  a  letter  from  a  church  to  a  church.  In  this  commu- 
nication we  read,  "Receive  our  counsel  and  ye  shall  have 
no  occasion  of  regret." 

It  is  therefore  very  evident  that  the  primitive,  apos- 
tolic church  chose  its  own  pastor  and  officers,  disci- 
plined its  own  members  and  transacted  its  business  in- 
dependently, with  no  interference  from  without.  But  it 
is  equally  certain  that  each  church  entered  into  fellow- 
ship with  other  Christian  churches ;  and  in  that  com- 
munion received  help  and  strength.  This  independency 
was  manifest  in  varying  degrees  of  autonomy;  and  the 
fellowship  expressed  itself  in  different  forms.  It  may  be 
seen  in  reading  the  annals  of  that  distant  age  that  there 
was  always  a  party  favoring  the  former ;  and  with  equal 
certainty  we  may  say  the  latter  was  never  without  hearty 
support. 

The  parity  of  the  ministry  in  the  early  churches  is 
everywhere  in  evidence.  The  terms  presbyter  and  bishop 
are  synonymous.  Each  church  had  one  or  more  pas- 
tors. In  time,  however,  by  virtue  of  age  or  ability,  one 
presbyter  was  given  certain  preeminence.  Churches 
established  in  growing  centers  of  population  also  ac- 
quired an  acknowledged  power  and  ascendency.  The 
stated  and  occasional  gatherings  of  the  churches,  repre- 
sentative and  otherwise,  reflected  the  influences  of  these 
changing  conditions.  From  a  polity  strictly  Congrega-- 
tional  in  the  beginning,  the  churches  gradually  passed 
under  Presbyterian  forms,  and,  later,  to  the  Episcopalian, 
which  became  well-nigh  universal   at  the   close  of   the 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL        189 

first  half  of  the  second  century.  In  the  early  churches 
the  pastor  was  a  bishop  and  there  were  as  many  bishops 
as  there  were  pastors.  In  time  the  pastor  of  the  leading 
church  became  the  sole  bishop.  But  it  is  to  be  noted 
that  his  function  was  strictly  governmental,  and  the 
churches  did  not  regard  him  as  belonging  to  a  higher 
class  or  a  distinct  order. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  ministry  was  undergoing 
change,  the  meetings  of  the  churches  also  were  showing 
new  forms  and  exercising  new  prerogatives.  The  councils 
held  at  Jerusalem  were  simple  in  their  organization  and 
yet  fearless  and  outspoken  in  their  deliverances.  The 
age  called  for  distinct  enunciations  u|>on  the  importance 
of  sound  doctrine,  both  in  faith  and  practice.  A  hard  and 
fixed  line  between  the  two  could  not  always  be  clearly 
drawn.  The  founders  of  our  church  order  were  deeply 
concerned  with  the  question,  "What  is  the  true  polity  of 
the  Christian  Church?"  What  powers  are  germane  to  its 
controlling  principles?  Each  believer  was  held  to  be  a 
priest  and  king;  believers  to  constitute  the  church, 
which  was  to  acknowledge  the  headship  of  Christ;  and 
in  religious  duties  all  churches  should  be  joined  in  pray- 
erful communion.  However  difficult  they  found  the  de- 
tailed adjustment  of  the  local  church  in  its  autonomy  to 
the  principle  of  fellowship,  they  never  wavered  in  their 
belief  in  the  truth  and  justice  of  the  polity. 

Dr.  Dexter,  in  his  suggestive  monograph,  "A  Glance  at 
the  Ecclesiastical  Councils  of  New  England,"  says,  "The 
first  reference  to  such  communion,  in  that  modified  form 


I90  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

which  grew  to  what  the  Church  of  Rome  knows  by  the 
name  of  Council,  is  beheved  to  be  found  in  a  passage  of 
TertulHan,  in  which,  after  reference  to  the  powers  of  a 
bishop  at  that  time,  he  adds  that  councils  of  churches 
were  accustomed  to  be  held  among  the  nations  of  Greek 
descent  for  consultation  upon  matters  of  special  import, 
and  that  their  decisions  were  treated  with  the  greatest 
respect."  It  was  reserved  for  the  great  meetings  of  the 
early  centuries,  called  councils,  to  examine,  define  and 
promulgate  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  Christianity.  There 
were  very  many  of  these  memorable  national  and  inter- 
national gatherings.  But  only  seven  by  the  common 
consent  of  Christendom  have  been  accorded  the  title 
ecumenical.  These  epoch-marking  conclaves  of  the 
churches  all  had  political  as  well  as  ecclesiastical  signifi- 
cance. From  the  standpoint  of  the  Church,  the  object 
was  to  promote  Catholicity.  From  the  standpoint  of  the 
State,  the  purpose  was  to  obtain  the  support  by  the 
Government  of  the  united  Church.  Only  bishops  voted 
in  these  assemblies  convened  by  command  of  the  Em- 
perors. 

The  first,  and  in  some  respects  the  most  important  of 
all  of  these  world-councils  was  called  by  Constantine  to 
Nicsea  in  325  A.D.  The  Arian  controversy  was  the 
cause.  The  interest  of  Arius  was  primarily  philosophi- 
cal ;  that  of  Athanasius,  his  able  opponent,  religious.  And 
the  latter,  though  in  the  minority  in  the  beginning,  car- 
ried the  convention  with  him,  and  we  have  the  result  in 
the  creed  which  bears  the  name  of  the  place  of  the  meet- 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      191 

ing.  The  second  Council  met  fifty-six  years  later  in 
Constantinople  and  reaffirmed  the  decisions  of  the  for- 
mer. The  seventh  and  last  bearing  the  name  ecumeni- 
cal also  met  at  Nicaea,  nearly  five  centuries  after  the  first, 
or  in  787.  These  eventful  conventions  of  the  princes  of 
the  Church  left  indelible  impress  upon  the  doctrine, 
polity  and  modes  of  worship.  More  than  a  thousand 
years  have  passed  since  the  last  ecumenical  council  was 
held,  and,  though  the  churches  have  suffered  vicissitudes 
innumerable  and  have  been  oft  divided,  the  decisions  of 
these  ancient  councils  still  control  the  thought  and  labor 
of  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  Christendom.  It  is  no 
wonder,  therefore,  that  the  ages  have  invested  these  vast 
assemblies  and  J;heir  deliverances  with  a  dignity  and 
sanctity  which  are  peculiarly  their  own.  We  may  truly 
regret  that  at  present,  when  a  united  Christianity  would 
mean  so  much,  not  only  to  doctrine  but  to  life,  manifold 
divisions  no  longer  maJce  possible  an  ecumenical  coun- 
cil of  all  Christian  peoples.  But  the  word  and  the  ex- 
pression of  the  faith  of  those  ancient  councils  are  not 
wholly  lost. 

There  were  many  and  heroic  reformers  before  the 
Reformation  of  the  sixteenth  century.  Single-handed 
and  alone  men  arose  who  counted  not  their  very  lives  as 
dear  unto  themselves  if  they  might  lead  the  churches  to 
return  to  the  primitive  belief  and  practice  of  the  early 
Gospel.  Theirs  was  a  hopeless  battle  against  power  en- 
trenched in  high  places.  Often  they  perished,  not  even 
leaving  their  names  on  the  roll  of  martyrdom.    At  length 


192  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

in  1 5 17  came  forward  the  monk  of  Wittenberg  to  nail  his 
ninety-five  theses  on  the  door  of  the  Church  of  All  Saints. 
It  was  only  a  spark,  but  it  kindled  a  mighty  flame.  The 
rebellion  against  the  very  imperialism  that  called  the 
early  councils  into  existence  had  begun.  Faith  and 
polity  were  both  involved.  But  we  sometimes  forget  that 
Luther  was  a  political  reformer  and  that  if  it  had  not  been 
for  the  support  of  Frederick  the  Wise  his  efforts  must 
have  failed.  It  sheds  much  light  upon  the  early  history 
of  Protestantism  to  remember  that  the  support  of  the 
State  was  essential.  And  as  purity  of  doctrine  was 
sought  first  of  all,  rather  than  the  ecclesiastical  forms 
under  and  by  which  the  faith  was  to  be  propagated,  this 
political  support  was  soon  merged  into  union.  Ecclesi- 
astical forms  were  dependent  upon  political  environ- 
ment. Nationalism  in  religion  was  forced  upon  the  re- 
formers almost  as  a  necessity.  Wherever  monarchical 
influence  predominated,  the  churches  took  the  form  of 
Episcopacy,  Wherever  the  democratic  influence  was 
supreme  in  the  rule  of  the  people,  the  ecclesiastical  gov- 
ernments became  Presbyterian  and  were  thus  in  accord 
with  the  nation.  In  neither  case  did  Luther,  Zwingli  and 
their  confreres  feel  that  their  ideals  of  church  polity  had 
been  attained.  There  were  always  radicals  among  the 
churches  who  openly  declared  that  the  Reformation  had 
reformed  only  half  the  abuses  of  the  churches.  These 
voices  were  never  silenced. 

Only  seven  years  after  Luther  had  consigned  the  Bull 
of  Pope  Leo  X  to  the  flames  in  the  market-place  of  Wit- 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      193 

tenberg,  Francis  Lambert,  a  French  exile,  began  preach- 
ing in  Hesse  a  still  greater  reform.  The  principality  had 
been  profoundly  moved  already  by  the  Reformation. 
Philip  the  Landgrave  gave  the  new  evangelist  encour- 
agement and  protection.  In  a  synod  of  the  reformed 
churches  assembled  by  this  progressive  ruler,  Lambert 
had  an  opportunity  to  present  personally  his  views  and 
to  publish  among  the  attendants  certain  theses  of  his  on 
church  polity  which  had  been  printed  only  a  short  time 
before.  His  plan,  based  upon  his  studies  of  the  New 
Testament,  commended  itself  to  the  Synod.  His  polity 
contemplated  "the  formation  of  a  pure  congregation  of 
true  believers,  in  which  the  right  of  ecclesiastical  self- 
government  should  be  exercised  immediately  by  the  con- 
gregation. In  the  congregation  of  brethren  or  saints 
that  may  be  organized,  all  church  business  is  to  be  trans- 
acted." It  thus  called  for  a  spiritual  democracy,  a  self- 
governing  church,  complete  in  itself. 

Other  theses  in  the  same  platform  made  provision  for 
a  yearly  synod  or  council,  "composed  of  the  assembled 
pastors  and  of  delegates  chosen  immediately  before  in 
the  church-meetings."  Leonard  Bacon  writes,  in  his 
"Genesis  of  the  New  England  Churches,"  of  his  carefully 
outlined  church  order :  "The  functions  and  powers  of  the 
Synod  were  defined  in  a  remarkable  accordance  with  the 
powers  and  functions  of  councils  in  the  polity  of  the 
New  England  churches."  Francis  Lambert's  platform' 
of  church  government  and  order  was  the  first  exposition 
of  modern  Congregationalism.     It  is  much  to  be  re- 


194  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

gretted  that,  although  accepted  by  the  Synod,  when  it 
was  presented  to  the  leaders  of  the  reformed  churches, 
they  pronounced  it  ideal  in  theory  but  impracticable  for 
the  time.  The  author  died  two  years  after  the  Synod. 
It  would  be  an  interesting  study  for  some  thorough 
scholar,  for  it  has  never  yet  been  done,  to  discover  what 
influence,  if  any,  Lambert  had  upon  the  Pilgrim  re- 
formers, who,  two  generations  later,  were  to  be  his 
worthy  successors. 

The  first  half  of  the  sixteenth  century  saw  most  mo- 
mentous changes  in  England.  Church  as  well  as  State 
shared  in  the  general  turmoil  and  upheaval.  Henry 
VIII,  "the  first  heir  of  the  white  and  the  red  rose"  came 
to  the  throne  in  1509.  The  revival  of  learning  was  quick- 
ening all  minds.  The  invention  of  printing  made  it  pos- 
sible for  the  first  time  for  even  the  poor  to  read.  The 
common  people  began  to  do  their  own  thinking.  To 
possess  and  study  the  Bible  became  no  less  than  a  pas- 
sion in  many  hearts.  Ecclesiastical  supremacy  had  been 
shattered  and  in  its  place  the  Reformers  put  the  Scrip- 
tures. It  was  a  seed-sowing  time  for  Protestantism.  At 
the  death  of  the  many  times  married  monarch,  England 
was  divided  at  home,  friendless  abroad;  yet  the  power 
of  the  Pope  had  been  overthrown,  never  to  be  fully  re- 
established. 

Edward  VI  also  favored  Protestantism,  and  he  wit- 
nessed the  establishment  of  the  Prayer-book  and  the 
Forty-two  Articles  of  Religion.  Then  came  Bloody 
Mary,  whose  cruel  persecutions  checked  only  for  a  time 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      195 

the  reform.  "Play  the  man,  Ridley,"  said  Latimer,  as 
he  stood  in  flames  at  the  stake  in  Oxford ;  "we  shall  this 
day  light  such  a  candle,  by  God's  grace,  in  England,  as 
I  trust  shall  never  be  put  out." 

Never  had  the  fortunes  of  Great  Britain  been  at  lower 
ebb  than  they  were  when  Elizabeth  ascended  the  throne 
in  1558.  The  nation  was  humiliated,  the  people  crazed 
by  the  intolerance  and  corruption  of  the  Court.  The 
able  Queen,  who  was  to  leave  her  name  resplendent 
among  all  sovereigns  of  the  world,  sought  at  once  ta 
establish  her  rule,  to  keep  from  war,  and  to  restore  civil 
and  religious  order.  The  strain  and  stress  were  for  a 
while  past.  It  was  a  time  to  take  breath.  At  first  le- 
nient toward  all  faiths,  Elizabeth  became  more  exacting ;: 
she  restored  the  Prayer-book  and  enforced  its  use 
through  the  famous  Act  of  Uniformity.  The  "Articles" 
were  revised,  and  all  the  clergy  were  required  to  sub- 
scribe to  them.  She  made  the  State  supreme  in  all 
things;  and  not  even  religion  was  in  any  way  to  impair 
this  supremacy.  Her  dislike  to  the  Romanists  was  not 
due  to  her  antagonism  to  their  faith,  but  to  the  political 
hostility  associated  with  their  religion.  If  she  did  not 
encourage  the  Reformers,  it  was  not  always  due  to  a 
lack  of  sympathy  with  their  aims,  but  solely  because  she 
had  misgivings  as  to  the  result  of  their  success  upon  the 
political  fabric  of  the  kingdom.  It  mattered  little  to 
many  what  the  sovereign  was  doing,  for  they  were  read- 
ing, thinking,  praying  as  never  before.  The  spirit  of 
religion  was  taking  absolute  possession  of  men.     The 


196  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

whole  temper  of  the  nation  was  changed.  A  new  con- 
ception of  life  with  added  moral  impulse  superseded  the 
old.  Spirituality  worked  downward  and  upward,  leaven- 
ing the  entire  social  lump.  Social  equality  was  enforced 
upon  even  doubting  minds  by  the  teachings  of  the  Gos- 
pel. All  were  brethren,  because  one  was  their  Master, 
even  Christ  Jesus.  The  meanest  peasant  was  exalted 
and  ennobled  as  a  child  of  God.  The  Puritan  spirit  found 
a  voice  in  the  noblest  literature  of  all  time  when  Milton 
sang  in  sublimest  strains  of  the  majesty  of  Jehovah. 

It  may  seem  at  first  glance  a  far  cry  from  the  bitter 
controversies  of  the  closing  years  of  Elizabeth's  reign  to 
the  consideration  of  the  order  of  church  government  in 
distant  America.  We  forget  that  Congregationalism  did 
not  originate  on  this  side  the  sea ;  rather  did  all  the  fun- 
damental principles  of  our  polity  find  their  inception 
and  earliest  development  in  Europe.  Consequently,  he 
*who  would  understand  the  function  of  the  National 
Council  must  seek  in  the  cradle  of  our  denomination  its 
£arly  beginnings.  England  was  an  ecclesiastical  storm- 
center  at  this  period.  The  Established  Church  had  lost 
the  good  will  and  respect  of  the  people.  Presbyterian 
forms  had  been  officially  recognized  by  political  neces- 
sity, but  Thomas  Cartwright,  notwithstanding  his  great 
learning,  lost  his  opportunity  because  of  his  excessive 
intolerance.  Calvinistic  Presbyterianism  was  regarded 
as  even  more  bigoted  than  Romanism.  It  remained  for 
Richard  Hooker  in  his  "Ecclesiastical  Polity,"  an  epoch- 
marking  book,  to  shatter  the  unreasonable  assumptions 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      197 

of  the  Geneva  Reformers,  Goaded  to  action  by  the  dis- 
tressing and  divisive  animosities  of  her  subjects,  among 
the  last  official  acts  of  the  Queen  was  the  creation  of  the 
Ecclesiastical  Commission,  which  became,  under  the 
notorious  Laud,  an  instrument  of  untold  cruelty  and  op- 
pression. "All  preaching  and  reading  of  the  Bible  in 
private  houses  were  forbidden."  Even  printing  in  the 
kingdom  was  restricted  tO'  London.  Notwithstanding 
this  repression,  the  "Martin  Marprelate"  pamphlets  were 
issued  from  a  secret  press,  at  the  price,  later,  of  the  blood 
of  their  author  upon  the  scaffold. 

The  reforming  spirit  continued  to  spread;  and  on  the 
accession  of  James  the  First,  eight  hundred  ministers, 
one-tenth  of  all  in  the  kingdom,  waited  upon  his  Ma- 
jesty and  presented  him  the  "Millenary  Petition,"  re- 
questing reform.  But  James  had  no  real  sympathy  with 
reform  in  the  Church.  Persistently  he  clung  to  his  pet 
theory,  the  divine  right  of  kings,  and  the  religious  in- 
terests of  his  people  were  of  very  inconsiderable  concern. 
The  immorality  of  his  court  was  no  more  repugnant  than 
the  folly  of  his  rule.  The  time  had  come  when  his  sub- 
jects could  no  longer  endure  conformity  with  his  unjust 
laws.  Those  who  would  worship  God  in  accord  with 
the  dictates  of  conscience  began  to  gather  on  the  Lord's 
Day  in  separate  "conventicles,"  as  their  meetings  were 
contemptuously  called  by  their  enemies.  The  Puritan 
churches  grew.  In  that  word  "grew"  is  summed  up  the 
leading  characteristic  of  these  institutions.  What  should 
be  the  relation  of  the  believer  to  the  church?  What  that 


198  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

of  the  churches  to  one  another?  and  what  the  relation  of 
the  Church  to  the  State?  were  all  questions  demanding 
solution.  Among  others  who  offered  a  solution  was  the 
Rev.  Robert  Browne,  who  was  born  in  1549  of  distin- 
guished family.  He  became  a  clergyman  in  the  Es- 
tablished Church,  but  soon  rebelled  against  the  enforced 
conformity  and  was  imprisoned.  The  radical  nature  of 
his  reform  made  him  a  Separatist.  The  doctrine  was  in 
advance  of  the  times.  Parliament,  although  Puritan, 
passed  a  statute  against  him,  and  he  fled  to  Holland.  He 
firmly  believed  that  the  Scriptures  teach  with  sufficient 
clearness  what  is  the  proper  manner  to  constitute  and 
control  churches  of  Christ.  In  1582,  he  published  a 
work,  "The  Life  and  Manners  of  all  True  Christians." 
The  plan  of  the  book  is  peculiar,  in  that  it  is  arranged  in 
the  form  of  questions  and  answers  in  four  parallel  col- 
umns. The  first  is,  "Wherefore  are  we  called  the  peo- 
ple of  God  and  Christians?"  Answer:  "Because,  that  by 
willing  Covenant  made  with  our  God,  we  are  under  the 
government  of  God  and  Christ,  and  thereby  do  lead  a 
godly  and  Christian  life."  Then,  as  now,  many  in  the 
churches  longed  for  a  visible,  tangible  infallibility.  They 
felt  that  authority  was  essential  to  good  government 
among  churches  as  among  individuals.  But  where  shall 
that  power  be  resident?  Browne's  answer  foreshadowed 
the  Congregationalism  of  the  present  day  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  twentieth  century,  when  he  replied,  "In  the 
local  church." 
Browne  gave  a  distinct  place  to  the  fellowship  of  the 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      199 

churches  in  his  poHty.     His  oft  quoted  definition  is  a 
good  definition  even  now,  "A  Synode  is  a  Joyning  or 
partaking  of  the  authorite  of  manie  churches  mette  to- 
gether in  peace  for  redresse  and  deciding  of  matters, 
which  cannot  well  be  otherwise  taken  up."    He  returned 
to  England,  later  repudiated  his  published  doctrines,  en- 
tered again  upon  service  in  the  Established  Church  and 
died  in  that  communion.    His  teachings  were  given  wide 
publicity.     Not,  however,  until  many  years  afterwards 
did  they  bear  much  fruit.     Notwithstanding  his  erratic 
ways,  his  teachings  must  ever  be  held  by  Congregation- 
alists  in  lasting  remembrance.     According  to  his  doc- 
trine, the  Church  should  be  not  a  pulpit,  nor  a  hierarchy, 
nor  an  altar,  nor  a  platform,  but  a  believing  fraternity 
intent  on  bringing  the  kingdom  of  heaven  down  to  earth. 
A   London  barrister  set  the  next  mile-stone  in  the 
development  of  the  order  of  church  government.   Henry 
Barrowe  was  converted  from   evil   habits   and   resolved 
to  give  his  life  to  the  redemption  of  his  fellow  men. 
He  accepted  the  faith  and  polity  of  the   radical   Sep- 
aratists and  was   tried   and   thrust    into   prison.     John 
Greenwood,  a  clergyman  in  the  National  Church,  a  grad- 
uate of  Oxford,  joined  him  in  his  crusade  and  shared  his 
imprisonment.     Secretly  they  wrote  and  sent  page  after 
page  to  the  friendly  printers  in  Holland.     Their  belief 
was  similar  to  that  of  Browne ;  but  in  polity  they  were 
not   nearly  so   democratic.    Theirs  was  a   compromise 
with  Presbyterianism.       All  the  members  of  the  local 
church  were  to  elect  ruling  elders  who  should  adminis- 


200  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

ter  all  the  affairs  of  the  organization.  This  theory  pre- 
vailed among  the  churches  of  the  Puritans  for  more  than 
a  centur3\  In  the  paper,  "A  True  Description"  of  church 
government,  published  by  them,  it  should  be  said  that 
the  synod  is  not  given  the  power  over  the  churches 
which  the  development  of  their  scheme  would  logically 
require.  In  the  amplified  confession  of  the  Amsterdam 
Church,  issued  in  1596,  the  thirty-eighth  division  is  as 
follows :  "That  though  Congregations  bee  thus  distinct 
and  severall  bodyes,  every  one  as  a  compact  city  in  it- 
self, yet  are  they  all  to  walk  by  one  and  the  same  rule, 
and  by  all  means  convenient  to  have  the  counsell  and 
help  one  of  another  in  all  needfull  affayres  of  the  Church, 
as  members  of  one  body  in  the  common  faith,  under 
Christ  their  head."  We  must  interpret  the  meaning  of 
this  deliverance  mainly  by  inference;  and  yet  there 
seems  to  be  little  authoritative  or  compulsory  power,  if 
any,  given  the  synod  or  council  over  the  churches. 

In  the  Northeast  of  England,  in  the  first  years  of  the 
seventeenth  century  a  congregation  of  Separatists  had 
gathered.  Fearing  utter  extinction,  amid  great  priva- 
tion and  danger,  in  1608  they  sailed  for  Amsterdam,  and 
a  year  later  removed  to  Leyden.  John  Robinson  was 
their  honored  pastor.  We  are  concerned  solely  with  his 
views  of  church  polity.  Trouble  in  the  church  at  Am- 
sterdam  continuing,  the  minority  (30)  petitioned  the  Ley- 
den Church  to  be  present  at  an  ex  parte  council.  The  re- 
quest was  not  immediately  complied  with.  Finally  Rob- 
inson and  Brewster  went  and  freely  gave  such  advice  as 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      201 

they  felt  needful.  This  appeal  of  the  Separatist  Church 
to  another  and  the  response,  are  deeply  significant.  It 
was  the  first  public  ecclesiastical  function  assumed  by 
Robinson.  Yet,  such  was  the  continued,  as  it  proved 
fatal,  contention  in  the  church  in  Amsterdam,  that  the 
Leyden  congregation  feared  to  fellowship  with  them 
intimately.  Ecclesiastically  the  Pilgrim  Church  in  Ley- 
den was  alone. 

About  a  dozen  of  the  separate  writings  of  Robinson 
we  now  have.  None  of  his  sermons  were  preserved.  Not 
one  of  the  number  is  upon  church  polity  solely.  We  must 
glean,  here  and  there,  his  opinions  on  the  practice  of  the 
Pilgrim  churches.  But  we  are  not  left  in  the  dark.  Re- 
membering the  mission  in  behalf  of  his  church  to  the 
Amsterdam  council,  we  are  not  surprised  to  read  in  his 
letter  to  Bernard,  entitled,  "A  Justification  from  the 
Church  of  England,"  "But  it  will  be  sayd,  may  not  the 
officers  of  one  or  many  churches  meet  together  to  dis- 
cusse  and  consider  of  matters  for  the  good  of  the  Church, 
or  churches,  and  so  be  called  a  Church  Synode,  or  the 
like?  I  deny  it  not,  so  they  infringe  no  order  of  Christ, 
or  Hberty  of  the  brethren,  they  may  do  so,  and  so  be 
called,  in  a  sense." 

The  church  of  John  Robinson,  we  have  had  occasion 
to  examine  already,  was  not  such  that  it  would  be  classi- 
fied as  strictly  Congregational  to-day.  It  partook  largely 
of  the  features  of  Presbyterianism.  It  was  far  removed 
from  the  polity  enunciated  by  Browne.  In  a  treatise, 
first  published  in  Latin  by  Robinson  in  1625,  termed 


202  THE     NATIONAL  COUNCIL 

"A  Just  and  Necessary  Apology,"  he  says,  "Lest  any 
should  take  occasion,  either  by  the  things  here  spoken 
by  us  to  conceive  that  we  either  exercise  amongst  our- 
selves, or  would  thrust  upon  others  any  popular  or  demo- 
cratical  church  government;  may  it  please  the  Christian 
reader  to  make  estimate  of  both  our  judgment  and  prac- 
tice in  this  point,  according  as  we  believe;  that  the  ex- 
ternal church  government  under  Christ,  the  only  Media- 
tor and  Monarch,  is  plainly  aristocratical ;  and  to  be  ad- 
ministered by  certain  choice  men,  although  the  State, 
which  many  unskilful  confound  in  the  government,  be 
after  a  sort  popular  and  democratical." 

Upon  the  title  page  preceding  this  chapter  may  be 
read  an  extract  from  the  Salem  Covenant.  This  was  the 
voluntary  bond  of  fellowship  taken  by  the  thirty  persons 
who  in  1629  formed  the  first  Congregational  church  or- 
ganized in  America.  The  Church  in  Plymouth  had  been 
invited.  They  came  by  sailing  vessel  across  the  Bay, 
and  were  delayed.  But  before  the  day's  exercises  closed, 
the  party,  including  Governor  Bradford,  arrived.  They 
reviewed  the  proceedings,  and  then  in  behalf  of  the  sis- 
ter church  in  Plymouth  declared  "their  approbation  and 
concurrence."  It  was  indeed  gratifying  and  deeply  sig- 
nificant that  these  two  churches,  the  first  of  our  order  in 
the  New  World,  should  thus  fraternize,  and  the  older 
greet  the  younger  with  "the  right  hand  of  fellowship." 
Quite  naturally,  this  manifest  fellowship  between  Plym- 
outh and  Salem  had  far-reaching  influences.  The  par- 
ticipants returned  to  their  homes  cheered  by  the  thought 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL         203 

that  Congregationalism  was  no  longer  merely  an  experi- 
ment. Thus  had  come  logically  to  fruition  the  hopes 
which  had  been  cherished  in  patient  hearts  for  years. 

The  following  year,  the  church  in  Boston  was  organ- 
ized and  chose  its  officers,  the  congregation  at  Plymouth 
being  requested  to  observe  the  day  in  fasting,  that  the 
prayers  of  God's  people  might  invoke  divine  blessing 
upon  their  union.    A  preceding  chapter  has  been  given 
to  the  first  general  synod  of  the  churches,  held  in  1637. 
The  clash  between  Independency  and  Presbyterianism 
in  the  Newbury  church  resulted  in  the  assembling  of  the 
ministers  of  the  Colonies  in  1643-     It  took  decided  ac- 
tion against  the  encroaching  Presbyterianism,  namely: 
"That  the  votes  of  the  people  are  needful  in  all  admis- 
sions and  excommunications,  at  least  in  way  of  consent." 
That  standing  councils  had  commended  themselves  at 
this  early  day  to  the  judgment  of  New  England,  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  passed  by  this  Convention  will  show: 
"That  consociation  [not  used  here  in  the  technical  sense] 
of  churches,  in  way  of  more  general  meetings,  yearly; 
and  more  privately,  monthly  or  quarterly,  as  consultative 
synods  are  very  comfortable,  and  necessary  for  the  peace 
and  good  of  the  churches."    Still  another  meeting  of  the 
ministers  was  held  again  in  Cambridge  two  years  later. 
We  know  little  more  about  it  than  the  fact  of  its  exist- 
ence. 

Nine  years  after  the  second  general  council  of  the 
churches  adjourned  in  1648,  which  promulgated  the  well 
known  Cambridge  Platform,  treated  at  length  elsewhere, 


204  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

the  ministers  of  the  colonies  assembled  again.  A  discus- 
sion had  been  increasing  throughout  all  the  colonies 
from  the  earliest  settlements  over  the  baptism  of  children 
and  the  rights  of  children  thus  baptized  in  the  Church 
after  they  had  reached  maturity.  It  was  conceded  that 
upon  profession  of  faith  in  the  adult,  he  at  once  entered 
into  the  full  privileges  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. It  was  not  so  clear  what  should  be  the  attitude  of 
the  Church  toward  those  who  had  been  baptized  in  in- 
fancy by  the  wish  of  their  parents  and  who  later  in  ma- 
ture life  brought  their  own  children  to  be  consecrated  in 
baptism.  It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distance  to  compre- 
hend the  intensity  of  the  feeling  that  was  aroused  over 
this  matter.  We  are  told  by  creditable  authority  that  the 
excitement  threatened  the  very  existence  of  some  of  the 
churches.  Much  light  is  thrown  upon  what  may  other- 
wise be  dark,  when  we  remember  that  Church  and  State 
were  practically  united.  Membership  in  the  one  meant 
full  citizenship  in  the  other.  The  first  to  move  officially 
was  a  body  of  ministers  in  Connecticut  who  petitioned 
the  General  Court  to  adjust  the  grievances  in  the 
churches.  The  Court  thereupon  appointed  a  commis- 
sion of  seven  to  investigate,  and,  if  thought  wise,  to  pre- 
sent memorials  to  the  several  General  Courts  of  the 
Colonies.  In  response  to  a  minute  handed  up  to  the 
Massachusetts  General  Court  by  the  above  commission, 
a  second  commission,  of  thirteen  ministers,  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  above  Court,  to  meet  June  4,  1657.  New 
Haven  declined  to  participate.    Plymouth  took  no  action 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      205 

whatever.  This  commission  sat  two  weeks  and  their 
deliverance  fully  answered  the  questions  propounded  by 
the  Courts.  It  was,  in  brief,  that  the  churches  recog- 
nized the  children  baptized  in  infancy  as  members  eli- 
gible to  such  privileges  as  children  are  competent  to  en- 
joy. But  on  reaching  maturity  Ihey  were  not  to  com- 
mune at  the  Lord's  Supper  unless  the  change  of  heart, 
termed  regeneration,  had  been  experienced  and  a  pub- 
lic confession  of  the  same  had  been  made  by  entering 
into  covenant  with  some  church. 

The  discussion  continued  unabated ;  and  so  threaten- 
ing were  the  effects  likely  to  be,  if  the  matter  were  not 
settled,  that  the  General  Court  issued  a  call  for  the  pas- 
tors and  delegates  of  the  churches  of  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts to  meet  in  a  Synod  in  Boston  in  March,  1662. 
About  seventy  responded.  What  is  known  as  the  "Half- 
Way  Covenant"  was  the  result.  It  reaffirms  the  decision 
of  the  preceding  Synod.  Few  people  were  satisfied  and 
the  controversy  continued.  Oil  had  been  added  to 
flames.  In  Connecticut  ministers  petitioned  their  Gen- 
eral Court  for  a  Synod,  which  the  authorities  called. 
Opposition  to  this  action  at  once  arose.  Some  feared 
the  "Half-Way  Covenant"  would  be  thrust  upon  them. 
Others  objected  to  the  use  of  the  word  "Synod"  as  it  was 
a  convention,  not  of  the  messengers  of  the  churches,  but 
solely  of  ministers.  The  latter  objection,  at  least,  was 
regarded  as  well  taken;  for  a  later  session  of  the  Court, 
in  1667,  while  repeating  the  call,  changed  the  name  to 
"Assembly." 


2o6  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  second  question  of  the  call  issued  by  the  Massa- 
chusetts General  Court  related  to  polity.  The  final  de- 
liverance, entitled,  "Whether  according  to  the  Word  of 
God  there  ought  to  be  a  Consociation  of  Churches,  and 
what  should  be  the  manner  of  it,"  was  a  reply  divided  into 
eight  answers  which  are  far  too  long  to  quote  here.  The 
first,  however,  is  in  the  nature  of  a  preface ;  and  as  an  ex- 
position of  the  practice  of  the  time  is  worthy  of  insertion. 
"Every  church  or  particular  Congregation  of  visible 
Saints  in  Gospel-order,  being  furnished  with  a  Presby- 
tery, at  least  with  a  Teaching  Elder,  and  walking  to- 
gether in  truth  and  peace,  hath  received  from  the  Lord 
Jesus  full  power  and  authority  Ecclesiastical  within  it- 
self, regularly  to  administer  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ, 
and  is  not  under  any  other  Ecclesiastical  Jurisdiction 
whatsoever.  For  to  such  a  Church  Christ  hath  given 
the  Keyes  of  the  Kingdome  of  Heaven,  that  what  they 
binde  or  loose  on  earth,  shall  be  bound  or  loosed  in 
heaven." 

What  may  be  popularly  termed  the  "Half- Way  Cove- 
nant" was  one  of  the  longest  and  most  disastrous  con- 
troversies in  the  history  of  Congregationalism.  In  the 
following  century  the  ultimate  findings  of  the  Court  were 
much  modified,  and  in  the  nineteenth,  entirely  repu- 
diated. In  this  long-drawn-out  quarrel  influences  had 
their  origin  which  resulted  in  the  Unitarian  Schism.  So 
long  and  bitter  was  it  that  the  churches  were  belittled  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world.  The  most  serious  consequences 
were  upon  the  spirituality   of   the  people   themselves. 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL       207 

Man's  relation  to  the  church  so  completely  filled  his  hori- 
zon of  thought  that  the  greater  one,  man's  relation  to 
God,  was  lost  sight  of.  The  discussion  did  have  an  edu- 
cative value.  In  reality  the  question  was,  "What  is  a 
Christian  Church?"  That  answered,  another  inquiry 
naturally  follows,  "What  is  my  relation,  as  a  member, 
to  it?" 

It  cannot  but  be  noticed,  that,  again  and  again,  when 
the  clouds  lowered  in  the  religious  skies  and  storms 
threatened  the  peace  of  New  England,  the  brethren 
sought  mutual  comfort  and  strength  in  fellowship.  It  is 
alike  in  accord  with  human  nature  and  reason  that  they 
should  do  so.  Any  seer  can  discern  that  the  history  of 
early  New  England  would  be  very  different  from  what 
it  is  if  it  were  not  for  the  helpful  influences  which  went 
out  from  the  synods  and  councils  of  the  churches.  The 
principle  of  the  council  was  deeply  laid  in  the  hearts  of 
men  and  they  thoroughly  believed  it  had  a  function  ger- 
mane to  the  spirit  of  the  Pilgrim  faith  and  practice.  The 
first  privately  printed  book  issued  in  America  con- 
firms this  view  conclusively.  John  Eliot,  the  beloved 
Apostle  to  the  Indians,  in  1665,  printed  for  distribution 
among  his  friends  in  the  churches  a  little  tract  of  thirty- 
eight  pages  entitled  "The  Communion  of  the  Churches : 
or  the  Divine  Management  of  the  Gospel  Churches,  by 
the  Ordinance  of  Councils,  constituted  in  order  accord- 
ing to  the  Scriptures."  The  entire  scheme  of  the  coun- 
cil is  elaborated.  Ecclesiastically,  its  type  was  a  modified 
Barrowism.    It  is  difficult  now  to  say  just  what  influence 


2o8  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

this  tract  had  upon  the  churches.  But  it  was  a  prophecy 
of  the  National  Council  which  was  delayed  almost  two 
centuries.  Dr.  Dexter  in  his  magnum  opus,  "Congrega- 
tionalism as  seen  in  its  Literature,"  says  :  "His  notion  was 
that  the  churches  can  fairly  maintain  and  duly  manifest 
that  unity  which  Christ  contemplates  for  them,  in  no  way 
so  well  as  by  Councils,  or  Synods, — not  called  together, 
exceptionally  for  special  uses,  but  meeting  regularly 
for  systematic  labors."  Here,  then,  is  an  exposition  of 
the  function  of  the  stated  council  from  the  pen  of  one  of 
the  most  honored  of  the  preachers  of  the  gospel  in  the 
formative  years  of  the  life  of  New  England. 

The  last  third  of  the  seventeenth  century  was  the  dark- 
est period  in  New  England  history,  socially,  politically 
and  religiously.  Immigration  of  the  Puritan  element 
ceased  for  a  time.  Disasters  on  the  sea  were  destructive 
to  commerce.  Fires  in  the  towns  and  settlements  of  the 
colonies  did  untold  damage.  The  wars  with  the  In- 
dians, in  which  one-tenth  of  all  the  able-bodied  fighting 
men  lost  their  lives,  devastated  the  entire  country.  For 
the  first  time  since  the  settlement  of  the  land  a  con- 
siderable number  returned  to  the  mother  country.  The 
churches  suffered  severely  with  all  the  rest. 

Under  such  conditions,  under  the  leadership  of  Rev. 
Increase  Mather,  the  ministers  appealed  to  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts  to  call  a  synod  to  consider: 
"Whether  a  Convention  of  the  Churches  by  their  Elders 
and  Messengers  bee  not  extraordinarily  necessary  at  this 
Time,  as  a  most  general  means  unto  the  attainment  of 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      209 

these  great  ends  proposed;  and  whether  therefore  God 
doth  not  now  call  the  Churches  thereunto.  Many  things 
appear  unto  us,  necessary  in  such  an  Assembly,  which 
cannot  bee  orderly  and  effectually  wrought  otherwise. 
That  the  Churches  may  have  opportunity  for  to  labour 
(at  least)  to  find  out,  and  fix  upon  the  right  means  and 
method  of  practice  as  to  things  which  have  been  already 
clearly  and  firmly  stated  from  the  word  of  God,  that  so 
the  Churches  may  concur,  and  assist  one  another  there- 
in, in  a  way  of  public  order,  peace,  union  and  com- 
munion." The  above  is  only  a  small  portion  of  this 
memorable  address,  embodying  one  of  the  clearest  and 
most  convincing  expositions  of  the  principle  and  func- 
tion of  the  council  which  we  have  had  in  our  history  as 
a  denomination. 

This  petition  was  presented  to  the  Court  May  28, 1679, 
and  received  immediately  a  grateful  acceptance  and  fa- 
vorable response.  The  synod  was  called  to  meet  in  the 
following  September,  and  to  consider  the  following  ques- 
tions: "i.  What  are  the  evills  that  have  provoked  the 
Lord  to  bring  his  judgments  on  New  England?"  "2. 
What  is  to  be  donn  that  so  these  evills  may  be  re- 
formed?" The  churches  of  Massachusetts  received  the 
call  with  manifest  favor  and  a  general  fast  was  observed 
throughout  all  the  churches.  The  people  gathered  in  their 
respective  houses  of  worship  and  implored  God  to  bless 
the  deliberations  of  the  contemplated  council  of  the 
churches. 

It  has  already  been  noted  that  the  meeting  was  not  a 


210  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

general  synod.  Only  the  churches  of  Massachusetts  were 
present  in  the  persons  of  their  delegates.  Yet  it  was  one 
of  the  most  influential  bodies  which  ever  met  in  our 
communion.  Upon  convening,  it  was  found  that  a  few 
of  the  churches  were  represented  only  by  their  pastors. 
These  churches  were  at  once  requested  to  send  also  mes- 
sengers from  the  laity.  It  was  done.  It  is  well  for  us 
to  take  note  of  this;  for  a  growing  evil  in  our  present 
National  Council  is  the  paucity  and  weakness  of  the  lay 
element.  The  result,  including  an  address  to  the  Court, 
the  formal  answers  to  the  questions  propounded,  and  "A 
Confession  of  Faith"  almost  identical  with  the  Savoy 
Confession  adopted  in  England  in  1658,  was  presented 
to  the  Court.  It  met  with  favor:— "Wee  doe  judge  it 
meete  to  comend  the  same  to  the  serious  consideration 
of  all  the  churches  and  people  in  this  jurisdiction." 

The  opening  years  of  the  eighteenth  century  brought 
little  reUef  to  the  troubled  hearts  of  the  struggling  Chris- 
tian people  of  the  colonies.  Again,  a  division  of  senti- 
ment was  very  marked  touching  the  manner  of  true 
Christian  living  and  the  method  of  administering  the 
churches  of  Christ.  One  evil  was  no  sooner  met  and 
successfully  overcome  than  another  appeared.  In  Eng- 
land, the  skies  were  no  brighter.  Common  dangers 
had  indeed  drawn  Non-conformists  closer  together. 
Especially  had  Presbyterian  and  Congregational  minis- 
ters fraternized  as  never  before.  Rev.  Increase  Mather 
spent  some  time  in  the  old  country  at  this  period  and 
his  influence  tended  to  bring  the  differing  pastors  to- 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      211 

gether.  Union  meetings  were  accordingly  held,  attended 
by  the  pastors  of  the  two  denominations.  Out  of  such  a 
gathering  emanated  the  famous  compact  known  as  the 
"Heads  of  Agreement."  It  was  not  designed  to  be  a 
complete  exposition  of  ecclesiastical  polity.  But  it  was, 
nevertheless,  as  Dr.  Bacon  has  declared,  "in  fact,  if  not 
in  name,  a  Congregational  Platform."  Its  great  weak- 
ness was  the  small  place  it  gave  the  laity.  It  called  for  a 
government  of  the  clergy.  This  document,  like  the  Sa- 
voy Confession,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  had  very  little 
weight  in  England.  It  was  soon  forgotten  in  the  midst 
of  heated  doctrinal  controversy  that  drove  the  two  de- 
nominations apart.  It  did,  however,  have  great  influ- 
ence in  America,  especially  in  Connecticut,  where  it  was 
virtually  incorporated  in  the  Saybrook  Platform.  Thus 
it  initiated  the  legalized  polity  of  an  important  colony 
for  three  quarters  of  a  century,  or  from  1708  until  1784. 

The  troublous  times  of  the  early  years  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century  incited  the  ministers  to  closer  fellowship. 
It  was  the  era  in  which  ministerial  associations  were 
formed.  In  them  social  amenities,  intellectual  stimulus 
and  spiritual  incitement  found  congenial  soil.  The 
polity  of  the  churches  quite  naturally  came  in  for  dis- 
cussion and  extended  consideration.  The  Association 
which  met  "at  the  College  in  Cambridge,  on  a  Monday  at 
nine  or  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  morning,  once  in  six 
weeks,  or  oftener,"  finally,  after  long  deliberation  passed 
and  published  to  the  churches  the  following : 

"Synods,  duly  composed  of  messengers  chosen  by 


212  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

them  whom  they  are  to  represent,  and  proceeding  with  a 
due  regard  unto  the  will  of  God  in  his  Word,  are  to  be 
reverenced,  as  determining  the  mind  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
concerning  things  necessary  to  be  received  and  practiced 
in  order  to  the  edification  of  the  churches  therein  repre- 
sented. Synods,  being  of  Apostolic  example,  recom- 
mended as  a  necessary  ordinance,  it  is  but  reasonable 
that  their  judgment  be  acknowledged  as  decisive,  in  the 
affairs  for  which  they  are  ordained." 

Presbyterianism  is  written  in  large  letters  across  the 
face  of  such  a  document.  To  some  it  seemed  to  subvert 
all  that  the  early  Pilgrims  held  dear  in  church  govern- 
ment. As  is  so  often  the  case,  the  older  men  were  con- 
servative, the  younger  men  in  the  ministry  were  radical. 
The  old  straw  of  the  "Half-Way  Covenant"  had  to 
be  threshed  over  again.  It  was  inevitable.  Not  alone  the 
pulpit  but  the  pew  desired  to  break  away  from  the  un- 
yielding traditions  with  regard  to  the  conduct  of  wor- 
ship in  the  churches.  The  liberals  desired  to  have  the 
privilege  of  reading  the  Bible  without  comment  in  the 
services  and  to  repeat  the  Lord's  Prayer  with  the  congre- 
gation. Both  practices  were  contrary  to  the  customs 
and  belief  of  the  early  Pilgrims.  Conservatives  and  Lib- 
erals both  sought  comfort  and  support  in  practically  the 
same  means,  namely,  a  ministers'  conference.  This  was 
held  September  ii,  1705,  in  Boston,  and  was  composed  of 
nine  delegates,  representing  five  ministerial  associations. 
The  laity  were  not  represented.  As  a  result,  the  "Pro- 
posals of  1705,"  as  they  are  widely  known  in  the  history 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCH.      213 

of  Congregational  polity,  were  issued.  Later,  they  were 
approved  in  an  even  larger  convention. 

The  main  question  propounded  had  been,  ''What  fur- 
ther steps  are  to  be  taken  that  the  Councils  may  have 
due  Constitution  and  Efficacy  in  supporting,  preserving, 
and  well  ordering  the  Interest  of  the  Churches  in  the 
Country?"  The  "Proposals"  state  (permit  me  to  give 
a  very  brief  synopsis)  the  organization  of  local  associa- 
tions by  the  ministers,  "to  consider  such  things  as  may 
properly  lie  before  them  relating  to  their  own  faithful- 
ness towards  each  other,  and  the  common  interests  of 
the  churches;"  that  pastors  receive  the  advice  so  ren- 
dered; that  candidates  be  licensed  to  preach;  that  eccle- 
siastical councils  be  called  when  deemed  necessary  and 
expedient ;  that  the  several  associations  maintain  fellow- 
ship with  each  other. 

For  our  purpose,  however,  the  most  important  deliv- 
erance was  the  following:  "That  these  associated  pastors, 
with  a  proper  number  of  delegates  from  their  several 
churches,  be  formed  into  a  standing  or  stated  council,  which 
shall  consult,  advise  and  determine  all  affairs  that  shall 
be  proper  matter  for  the  consideration  of  an  ecclesiastical 
Council  within  their  respective  limits." 

These  "Proposals"  were  formally  endorsed  and  ap- 
proved by  the  ministers  in  convention  May  30,  1706,  and 
as  they  voiced  the  opinions  of  the  majority  of  the  pas- 
tors, little  opposition  to  them  was  aroused.  Yet  only 
one-half  the  "Proposals"  ever  went  into  effect.  The  rec- 
ommendation that  district  associations  be  formed,  where 


214  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

they  had  not  already  been  organized,  was  acted  upon 
quite  universally.  The  proposal  to  create  standing 
councils  remained  a  dead  letter.  Why,  has  only  in 
part  been  comprehended  by  later  historians.  Certain 
it  was,  that  the  government,  or  more  definitely  the 
legislative  and  judicial  authorities,  did  not  regard  the 
suggestion  with  favor.  There  was  also  a  minority 
among  the  ministry,  few  in  numbers,  and  yet  influ- 
ential, who  always  feared  such  concentration  of 
power  as  leading  inevitably  to  Presbyterianism.  It  re- 
mained for  a  pastor  almost  unknown  at  the  time,  the 
Rev.  John  Wise  of  Ipswich,  to  achieve  lasting  fame  by 
writing  a  satire  upon  the  polity  proposed  in  the  deliver- 
ance of  the  convention.  The  tract  was  entitled  "The 
Churches'  Quarrel  Espoused."  In  it  he  held  up  to  ridi- 
cule what  he  regarded  the  inconsistency  of  the  "Pro- 
posals." It  was  a  note  of  warning  that  aroused  many. 
The  boldness  of  the  attack  and  the  ability  of  the  writer 
astounded  even  the  old  veterans.  Standing,  authorita- 
tive councils  were  declared  to  be  perils  which  endan- 
gered the  freedom  of  the  Pilgrim  churches.  It  "smells 
so  strong  of  the  pope's  cooks  and  kitchen  .  .  .  that  it 
is  enough  to  strangle  a  freeborn  England,  and  much 
more  these  churches  that  have  lived  in  such  a  clear  air 
and  under  such  enlargements  so  long  a  time." 

John  Wise  proved  himself  a  master  of  our  church 
polity.  And,  what  was  more,  his  literary  style  was  in- 
comparable. Tyler,  in  writing  his  "History  of  American 
Literature,"  regards  him  among  the  foremost  stylists  the 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      215 

country  has  produced.  In  171 7,  he  published  a  larger 
and  more  ambitious  work.  It  was  no  less  than  an  at- 
tempted exposition  of  Congregational  polity  from  the 
beginning.  It  is  stimulating  reading  even  now,  and 
has  lost  little  in  the  passing  years.  To  it,  ever  since,  stu- 
dents of  church  polity  have  resorted  for  convincing  ar- 
gument to  prove  that  "Democracy  is  Christ's  govern- 
ment in  church  and  state."  It  contains  but  105  pages, 
but  it  is  an  arsenal  of  facts.  Listen  to  his  convincing 
conclusion:  "The  people  or  fraternity,  under  the  Gos- 
pel, are  the  first  subjects  of  power;  that  a  democracy  in 
church  or  state  is  a  very  honorable  and  regular  govern- 
ment, according  to  the  dictates  of  right  reason;  that 
these  churches  in  their  ancient  constitution  of  church 
order,  it  being  a  democracy,  are  manifested,  justified  and 
defended  by  the  law  and  light  of  nature." 

We  should  remember  that  the  issue  presented  by  the 
"Proposals"  had  been  pretty  effectually  fought  out  be- 
fore the  publication  of  the  books  of  Wise.  Still,  they 
must  be  given  due  weight.  Dr.  Dexter  says  that  they 
"provoked  a  discussion  which  in  time  revolutionized  the 
internal  philosophy  of  the  New  England  polity,  cast  out 
Barrowism  with  all  its  belongings,  and  brought  back 
the  original  Brownism,  purged  of  its  connate  inconsis- 
tencies and  harmonized  and  perfected  for  the  great  uses 
of  the  future." 

Thus  was  passed  one  of  the  mile-stones  in  the  history 
of  Congregational  polity.  John  Robinson's  aristocratic 
conception  of  the  ministry  had  been  vanquished ;  and  the 


2i6  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

earlier  and  more  democratic  theories  of  Francis  Lambert 
and  Robert  Browne  had  triumphed.  The  old  contention 
had  not  wholly  subsided,  however,  for  just  seven  weeks 
after  the  death  of  Wise,  Cotton  Mather  brought  before 
the  Minister's  Convention,  which  endorsed  it,  a  petition 
to  call  a  synod  to  consider  "What  are  the  miscarriages 
whereof  we  have  reason  to  think  the  judgment  of  heaven, 
upon  us,  call  us  to  be  more  generally  sensible,  and  what 
maj/  be  the  most  evangelical  and  eflfectual  expedients 
to  put  a  stop  unto  those  or  the  like  miscarriages."  The 
two  Houses  of  the  Legislature  were  divided  upon  the 
request.  The  Upper,  composed  almost  entirely  of  el- 
derly men,  favored  it,  the  Lower  disapproved,  but  event- 
ually concurred  in  referring  the  petition  to  the  Court. 
Lieutenant-Governor  William  Dummer  approved. 

The  Colony  had  witnessed  radical  changes  in  the  past 
generation.  Englishmen  from  the  Established  Church 
had  settled  to  become  more  and  more  prominent  in  the 
commercial  and  social  life  of  Massachusetts.  These 
Episcopalians  objected  to  the  calling  of  another  synod, 
and  appealed  to  the  Bishop  of  London.  Presently,  the 
authorities  of  the  English  Church  spoke  in  no  uncertain 
sound,  communicating  with  the  Acting  Governor.  The 
synod  was  forbidden.  "It  is  thought  here  that  the  clergy 
should  not  meet  in  so  public  and  authoritative  a  manner 
without  the  King's  consent  as  head  of  the  Church,  and 
that  it  would  be  a  bad  precedent  for  dissenters  here  to 
ask  the  same  privilege,  which,  if  granted,  would  be  a 
sort  of  vying  with  the  Established  Church.     It  has  also 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      217 

been  insinuated  that  this  Synod  would  have  come  to 
some  resolutions  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land." 

Here  was  a  new  condition  to  cope  with.  In  the  early 
days  of  the  colony,  the  churches  had  been  left  almost 
alone  to  work  out  their  own  polity  and  destiny.  Now 
the  "Head  of  the  Church"  reaches  across  the  sea  and 
with  heavy  hand  enforces  whatever  conformity  is  pos- 
sible. These  conditions  remained  practically  unchanged 
until  the  Revolution  and  were  no  inconsiderable  factor 
in  goading  the  colonists  to  rebellion. 

Chronologically,  we  must  retrace  our  steps,  and  con- 
sider the  neighboring  Colony  of  Connecticut  which  had 
been  passing  through  very  similar  experiences.  There 
was  a  longing  on  the  part  of  laity  and  clergy  for  more 
authority  somewhere  resident  in  the  churches.  The 
founding  of  a  college  called  together  the  ministers  of 
southern  Connecticut.  Yale  College  was  established  in 
1 701.  They  then  turned  to  the  consideration  of  the 
churches  of  which  they  were  pastors.  A  circular  letter 
was  issued.  The  response  was  general  and  favorable. 
The  next  step  was  the  presentation  of  the  matter  to  the 
Legislature,  which  called  a  synod  to  meet  at  Saybrook, 
September  9,  1708.  And  here  a  strange  action  took 
place.  After  prolonged  consideration,  as  an  expression 
of  the  faith  of  the  churches,  the  Savoy  Confession,  which 
had  been  formulated  in  England  but  never  generally  ac- 
cepted there,  was  adopted.  And  in  polity,  the  "Heads 
of  Agreement,"  the  joint  action  of  the  Presbyterian  and 


2i8  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Congregational  ministers  of  London,  was  taken  as  a 
guide.  Twelve  ministers  and  four  laymen  composing 
the  synod  issued  the  famous  "Saybrook  Platform."  The 
noted  "Proposals"  of  the  Massachusetts  Convention  of 
1705  also  had  weight.  The  "Articles  for  the  Adminis- 
tration of  Church  Discipline"  are  fifteen  in  number. 
They  provided  that  the  churches  should  all  be  grouped 
in  consociations,  or  "standing  councils,"  one  or  more  in 
each  county.  In  these  bodies  should  reside  adequate 
power  to  govern  the  ministers  and  the  churches.  An 
annual  "General  Association"  should  also  be  established, 
composed  of  delegated  representatives  from  all  the 
churches.  The  minute  of  the  Synod  was  presented  to  the 
Legislature  for  approval.  It  v/as  at  once  commended 
and  established  as  the  law  of  the  land. 

It  is  to  be  noted  at  this  point  that  what  proved  unac- 
ceptable to  Massachusetts,  was  received  with  favor  in 
Connecticut.  This  fact  had  great  influence  in  future 
years  in  determining  the  polity  of  the  two  regions.  Un- 
der the  Saybrook  Platform,  Congregational  churches 
became  more  and  more  Presbyterianized.  We  have 
seen,  in  another  chapter,  how  the  Connecticut  churches 
seemed  to  be  nearer  the  Presbyterian  churches  of  the 
more  southern  colonies,  in  doctrine  and  practice,  than 
they  were  the  churches  as  administered  in  Massachu- 
setts. The  "Plan  of  Union"  was  the  legitimate  outcome 
of  such  tendencies ;  and  Congregationalists  going  West 
were  already  tutored  to  appreciate  the  Presbyterian 
order  of  church  government. 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      219 

One  more  synod  requires  our  attention.  It  was  the 
last  to  be  called  by  the  government.  The  revivals  in  the 
period  of  the  Great  Awakening  had  disturbed  church 
relations  to  such  an  extent  that  the  controversy  de- 
manded action.  Ministers  therefore  petitioned  the  Legis- 
lature of  Connecticut  to  call  "a  General  Consociation  of 
the  churches  in  this  colony,  consisting  of  three  ministers 
and  three  messengers  from  each  particular  consocia- 
tion." The  call  expressed  the  hope  "that  such  a  gen- 
eral convention  may  issue  in  the  accommodation  of  di- 
visions, settling  peace,  love,  and  charity  and  promoting 
the  true  interest  of  vital  religion."  This  Council  met  in 
Guilford,  November  24,  1741,  and  passed  resolutions  de- 
ploring the  results  of  the  emotional  revivalism  which  had 
swept  over  the  land  and  left  so  little  permanent  spiritual 
result.  Itinerant  preachers,  often  without  education 
and  ecclesiastical  standing,  had  introduced  controversy, 
heresy  and  division  among  the  churches.  This  Synod 
was  called  because  of  the  exigencies  of  the  time. 

We  have  now  passed  in  rapid  review  the  trend  of 
events  pertaining  to  the  development  of  the  polity  of  the 
Independent  churches  and  have  reached  the  period 
when  the  present  National  Council  was  broached  and 
finally  consummated.  It  is  a  study  of  exceeding  interest, 
reflecting  not  alone  the  exterior  organization  of  the 
churches,  but  the  inner  life  of  the  believers  in  Christ. 
The  consideration  throws  a  flood  of  light  upon  institu- 
tions otherwise  impossible  to  comprehend.  The  Coun- 
cil has  become  a  common  denominator,  an  ecclesiastical 


220  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

solvent;  yet,  in  the  beginning,  though  in  theory  the 
early  fathers  had  a  place  for  it,  the  idea  was  never  put 
into  practice.  The  Separatists,  from  the  very  nature  of 
their  pohty,  felt  constantly  the  need  of  something  which 
would  give  unity.  They  were  fully  persuaded  from  bit- 
ter experience  that  nothing  tends  to  drive  men  apart  as 
autocratic  power  to  compel  men  to  be  united.  In  the 
original  home  of  modern  Congregationalism,  the  Eng- 
lish have  developed,  under  pressing  need,  this  idea  of 
denominational  autonomy  in  a  very  different  manner 
from  ourselves.  The  meeting  of  the  International  Coun- 
cil in  1891  was  the  fulfilment  of  many  prayers,  the  con- 
summation of  many  ardent  hopes. 

The  increase  in  the  number  of  the  churches,  their 
growth  in  influence  and  wealth,  the  complexity  of  Amer- 
ican civilization  over  an  enormously  increased  area,  all 
combined  to  make  necessary  the  power  which  comes 
with  united  spirit  and  eflfort.  As  the  messengers,  long 
ago,  went  up  from  the  scattered  churches  to  Jerusalem, 
so  the  delegations  were  urged  to  gather  in  council  in 
America,  that  through  prayer  and  converse  the  Master's 
work  might  be  the  better  done.  The  ancient  theory  had 
not  been  changed;  its  legitimate  outcome  in  practice  was 
equally  happy  and  effective.  Delegates  came,  not  to  sit 
as  ministers  or  deacons,  but  as  representatives  of  the 
churches.  Theoretically,  then,  when  the  National  Coun- 
cil convenes,  every  member  of  every  church  represented 
is  constructively  present  to  share  in  the  deliberations  of 
the  bodv.     The  idea  of  a  National  Council  is  an  out- 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      221 

growth  from  that  of  the  fellowship  of  the  churches.  It 
is  not  the  lack  of  power  in  the  individual  church,  which 
renders  necessary  the  application  of  fellowship,  for  each 
church  is  sovereign  in  itself,  but  it  is  rather  the  earnest 
desire  to  so  order  its  work  that  the  fraternal  confidence 
and  cooperation  of  all  the  churches  may  be  secured  to 
assist  in  carrying  forward  its  purposes. 

In  principle,  therefore,  the  function  of  the  National 
Council,  as  at  present  interpreted,  should  give  no  cause 
for  alarm  to  the  most  conservative.  Yet  we  must  re- 
mark that  no  small  element  in  our  churches  has  at  times 
regarded  the  institution  with  deep  concern  and  evident 
distrust.  Developments  in  our  denominational  life,  even 
in  the  last  generation,  have  incited  prolonged  reflection. 
The  growing  power  and  work  of  the  national  benevolent 
societies;  their  relations  to  each  other  and  to  the 
churches  sustaining  them;  the  assumption  of  authority 
by  local  and  State  associations;  the  intellectual  unrest  in 
educational  institutions  founded  and  maintained  by  the 
patronage  of  our  people;  the  theological  drifting  of  an 
element  of  the  clergy ;  the  uncertainty  at  times  of  minis- 
terial standing: — these  are  only  a  few  of  the  problems 
which  have  demanded  solution. 

These  phenomena  impel  some  of  our  number  to  seek 
more  authority.  Many  would  welcome  such.  But 
where  is  it  to  reside?  So  long  as  this  power  is  inherent 
in  the  local  church,  the  polity  of  the  churches  will  not  be 
estopped  nor  its  traditions  violated.  But  it  is  an  open 
secret  that  there  are  clergy,  and  laity  as  well,  among  our 


222  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

cfiurches,  who  would  endow  the  National  Council  with 
additional  powers.  In  this,  we  should  make  haste  slowly. 
The  local  church  is  the  unit  of  our  ecclesiastical  system. 
It  is  at  once  the  corner-stone  and  keystone  as  well.  With 
any  violent,  radical  change  the  entire  ecclesiastical  struc- 
ture would  be  in  danger  of  collapse.  The  unwritten  con- 
stitution of  our  polity  is  very  clear  on  this  point.  The 
National  Council  is  not  a  caucus,  a  place  to  win  votes 
for  men  and  measures ;  it  is  not  a  court  of  appeal  to  hear, 
try  and  settle  disputes.  Yet  it  is  both  and  more.  It  is 
a  parliament  in  which  brethren  gather  to  consider 
Christ's  work,  the  members  of  which  advise  ways  and 
means  for  the  promotion  of  Christianity.  The  Council's 
influence,  then,  is  not  legislative,  executive,  formal,  but 
moral  and  religious. 

To  express  and  foster  the  unity,  not  the  consolidation, 
of  the  churches,  in  doctrine,  polity  and  work,  is  the  su- 
preme object  of  the  National  Council.  It  does  not  make 
any  claim  to  promulgate  what  the  churches  must  believe, 
but  it  does  presume  to  inquire  what  is  that  belief,  and 
gladly  disseminates  the  faith  thus  discerned  for  the  edi- 
fication of  the  people.  It  does  not  presume  to  dictate  the 
polity  to  be  pursued  by  any  single  church;  it  can,  how- 
ever, take  knowledge  of  the  practice  of  all  the  churches 
and  declare  the  unity  of  the  order  of  government  which 
makes  strong  the  bonds  of  peace.  A  certain  lack  of  or- 
ganization to  express  the  strength  of  the  church  life  was 
the  bane  and  weakness  of  the  early  Pilgrims.  Much 
power  ran  to  waste  because  not  conserved.    Organized 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      223 

fellowship  is  what  we  most  need  to-day.  "Many  hands 
make  light  work"  in  the  Master's  service.  This  we  need 
as  a  denomination  more  than  enforced  uniformity.  This 
was  the  thought  that  prompted  Professor  George  T. 
Ladd,  while  still  a  pastor,  in  his  suggestive  book,  "The 
Principles  of  Church  Polity"  to  write  at  the  close  of  the 
volume:  "We  may  possibly  come,  through  the  thrift  of 
the  National  Council,  or  otherwise,  to  have  a  more  visi- 
bly compact  and  centralized  form  of  church  government ; 
we  may  possibly  come  to  have  this  without  violating  the 
principles  of  Christ's  exclusive  rulership,  of  the  equality 
and  self-control  of  the  individual  and  of  the  autonomy 
of  the  local  church.  We  may  possibly  find  some  set  and 
formal  means  for  really  cultivating  and  honestly  express- 
ing an  improved  spirit  of  communion  amongst  the 
churches.  If  such  an  end,  through  such  means,  can  be 
reached,  the  end  may  justify  the  means." 

We  have  the  witness  of  the  Christian  consciousness 
and  the  testimony  of  Christian  experience  extending 
through  eighteen  hundred  years.  Can  this  inheritance 
of  the  simple  polity  from  an  honored  ancestry  meet  the 
demands  of  modern  society?  Or  must  the  structure  of 
our  independent  ecclesiastical  system  give  way  before 
the  more  highly  organized  polities  of  sister  communions? 
This  will  depend  on  many  things.  Growth  signifies 
change.  Expansion  is  the  type  and  sign  of  life.  The 
work  of  Congregationalism  is  not  yet  done.  Even 
greater  conquest  beckons  it  forward.  But,  when  organi- 
zation is  in  the  air,  some  decry  union  effort  in  the  Church ! 


224  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

Centripetal  power  must  be  invoked  to  counteract  the 
prevailing,  dissipating  effects  of  the  hurried  modern  life. 
The  Council  has  its  work,  but  it  cannot  do  everything. 
It  cannot  be  a  panacea  for  all  the  ills  the  churches 
fall  heir  to.  It  cannot  be  a  wet-nurse  to  keep 
alive  all  infantile  projects  to  which  eccentric 
ecclesiastics  give  birth.  It  has  also  a  place  in  the 
hearts,  the  prayers,  the  work  of  God's  people.  That 
place  is  not  one  occupied  by  the  local  church,  or  the  dis- 
trict conference  or  the  state  association.  Authority! 
Congregationalists  are  not  afraid  of  it  so  long  as  it  is 
legitimately  exercised.  Law  we  must  have;  but  we 
would  not  lose  our  liberty.  The  tyranny  of  bishops  and 
the  despotism  of  kings  drove  our  fathers  across  stormy 
seas.  No  such  evil  confronts  the  churches  to-day.  In 
the  inspiration  of  a  glorious  heritage  the  Pilgrim  son 
goes  forth  undaunted,  with  grateful  heart  that  he  has 
come  to  the  kingdom  at  such  a  time  as  this.  Congre- 
gationalism gave  law  to  the  Republic  and  has  had  no 
mean  part  in  subduing  a  continent;  it  still  has  a  part  and 
a  place  in  the  advancing  interests  of  the  nation. 

The  past  history  of  the  National  Council  is  secure.  It 
has  vindicated  its  right  to  be  and  has  well-nigh  disarmed 
criticism.  Mistakes  have  been  made,  serious  mistakes, — 
but  they  were  not  irreparable.  What  of  the  future?  Be- 
tween the  eternities  of  the  past  and  the  future,  there  is  a 
vanishing  point  we  call  the  present.  That  alone  is  ours. 
The  Pilgrims  were  men  of  lofty  purpose  and  mighty  will. 
In  the  face  of  the  weakness  of  perpetual  disintegration, 


THE  FUNCTION  OF  THE  COUNCIL      225 

they  pursued  amidst  unutterable  sacrifice  the  high  ideal 
of  faith  and  practice  which  they  found  in  the  Word  of 
God.  And  with  the  intensity  of  conviction  born  of  right- 
eous hope,  with  the  energy  of  unwavering  faith,  must 
we,  the  descendants  and  heirs  of  the  ancient  Pilgrims,  go 
up,  triennially,  to  the  meeting  of  the  churches. 


CHRONOLOGY  OF  CONGREGATIONAL 
POLITY 


1527  Francis  Lambert's  "Paradoxes"  published. 

1582  Robt.  Browne's  "Life  and  Manners"  issued. 

1586  Barrowe  &  Greenwood  in  prison  in  London. 

1588  "Martin  Marprelate"  Tracts  in  England. 

1589  Barrowe  &  Greenwood's  "True  Description." 
1592  First  modern  Congregational  Church— London. 

1595  Church  established  in  Amsterdam,  Holland. 

1596  "A  True  Confession"  published. 

1602  Congregational   Church  organized   in  Gainsborough,    Eng- 
land. 

1606  Scrooby  Church  organized. 

1608  Scrooby  Church  removes  to  Amsterdam. 

1609  Scrooby  Church  removes  to  Leyden. 

161 1  King  James  Version  of  Bible  published. 

1614  Council  held  in  Amsterdam  Church. 

1616  Church  organized  in  Southwark. 

1620  Pilgrims  sail  for  America. 

1624  First  Puritan  emigration. 

1629  Salem  Church  formed. 

1630  First  General  Court  in  Massachusetts. 

1635  Removal  to  Connecticut. 

1636  Harvard  College  founded. 

1637  First  General  Convention. 

1638  New  Haven  Colony  founded. 

1643  Ministers'  Conference  in  Cambridge. 

1643  Westminster  Assembly  assembles. 

1646  Second  General  Convention. 

165 1  General  Court  approves  Cambridge  Platform. 

1657  Ministers'  Conference  in  Boston. 

1658  General  Synod,  Savoy  Palace,  London. 


228  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

1662  Massachusetts  Synod,  Boston,  Approved  Half-Way  Cove- 
nant. 

1679  Massachusetts    (Reforming)    Synod,  Boston. 

1690  Ministers'  Association,  Boston,  formed. 

1701  Yale  founded. 

1705  "Proposals"  of  Massachusetts'  Associations. 

1708  Saybrook  (Conn.)   Synod,  Saybrook  Platform. 

1709  General  Association  of  Connecticut  formed. 

1725  Attempt  of  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  fo  call  a  Synod 
of  the  Church'es. 

1740  Great  Revival  of  Religion. 

1741  Guilford,  Connecticut,  Synod.     Last  one  called  by  the  State. 
1784     Saybrook  Platform  ceased  to  be  law. 

1801     Plan  of  Union  adopted. 

1810  American  Board  organized.  First  Sunday-School  in 
Massachusetts. 

1826    American  Home  Missionary  Society  organized. 

1833  Declarations  of  Faith  and  Principles  of  Church  Order 
adopted  in  England. 

1837  General  Assembly  Presbyterian  Church  abrogated  Plan  of 
Union. 

1852  General  Convention,  Albany,  New  York — Year  Book,  Con- 
gregational Library  Association,  Cong.  Church  Build- 
ing Society. 

1865    General  Convention,  Boston.    Burial  Hill  Declaration. 

1871     First  Triennial  National  Council,  Oberlin. 

1874    Second  Triennial  National  Council,  New  Haven. 

1877     Third  Triennial  National  Council,  Detroit,  Mich. 

1880    Fourth  Triennial  National  Council,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

1883     Fifth  Triennial  National  Council,  Concord,  N.  H. 

1886     Sixth  Triennial  National  Council,  Chicago,  111. 

1889     Seventh  Triennial  National  Council,  Worcester,  Mass. 

1891  First  International  Council,  London. 

1892  Eighth  Triennial  National  Council,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 
1895     Ninth  Triennial  National  Council,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

1898  Tenth  Triennial  Council,  Portland,  Ore. 

1899  Second  International  Council,  Boston. 

1901     Eleventh  Triennial  National  Council,  Portland,  Maine. 


230 


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CONSTITUTION,  BY-LAWS  AND  RULES  OF 
ORDER  OF  THE  NATIONAL  COUNCIL 


CONSTITUTION 

[Adopted  Nov.  17,  187 1] 

The  Congregational  churches  of  the  United  States,  by 
elders  and  messengers  assembled,  do  now  associate 
themselves  in  National  Council, — 

To  express  and  foster  their  substantial  unity  in  doc- 
trine, polity  and  work ;  and 

To  consult  upon  the  common  interests  of  all  the 
churches,  their  duties  in  the  work  of  evangelization,  the 
united  development  of  their  resources,  and  their  rela- 
tions to  all  parts  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 

They  agree  in  belief  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  the 
sufficient  and  only  infallible  rule  of  religious  faith  and 
practice,  their  interpretation  thereof  being  in  substantial 
accordance  with  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
faith,  commonly  called  evangelical,  held  in  our  churches 
from  the  early  times,  and  sufficiently  set  forth  by  former 
General  Councils. 

They  agree  in  belief  that  the  right  of  government  re- 
sides in  local  churches,  or  congregations  of  believers 
who  are  responsible  directly  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  one  head  of  the  Church  Universal  and  of  all  particu- 
lar churches ;  but  that  all  churches,  being  in  communion 
one  with  another  as  parts  of  Christ's  catholic  church, 
have  mutual  duties  subsisting  in  the  obligations  of  fel- 
lowship. 


236  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

The  churches,  therefore,  while  establishing  this  Na- 
tional Council  for  the  furtherance  of  the  common  inter- 
ests and  work  of  all  the  churches,  do  maintain  the  scrip- 
tural and  inalienable  right  of  each  church  to  self-govern- 
ment and  administration;  and  this  National  Council  shall 
never  exercise  legfislative  or  judicial  authority,  nor  con- 
sent to  act  as  a  council  of  reference. 

And,  for  the  convenience  of  orderly  consultation,  they 
establish  the  following  rules: — 

I.  Scssiotis. — The  churches  will  meet  in  National 
Council  every  third  year.  They  shall  also  be  convened 
in  special  session  whenever  any  five  of  the  general  State 
organizations  shall  so  request. 

II.  Representation. — The  churches  shall  be  repre- 
sented, at  each  session,  by  delegates,  either  ministers  or 
laymen,  appointed  in  number  and  manner  as  follows: — ■ 

1.  The  churches,  assembled  in  their  local  organiza- 
tions, appoint  one  delegate  for  every  ten  churches  in 
their  respective  organizations,  and  one  for  a  fraction  of 
ten  greater  than  one  half,  it  being  understood  that  wher- 
ever the  churches  of  any  State  are  directly  united  in  a 
general  organization,  they  may,  at  their  option,  appoint 
the  delegates  in  such  body,  instead  of  in  local  organiza- 
tions, but  in  the  above  ratio  of  churches  so  united. 

2.  In  addition  to  the  above,  the  churches  united  in 
State  organizations  appoint  by  such  body  one  delegate, 
and  one  for  each  ten  thousand  communicants  in  their  fel- 
lowship, and  one  for  a  major  fraction  thereof; 

3.  It  being  recommended  that  the  number  of  dele- 


CONSTITUTION  237 

gates  be,  in  all  cases,  divided  between  ministers  and  lay- 
men, as  nearly  equally  as  is  practicable.  Each  State  or 
local  organization  may  provide  in  its  own  way  for  filling 
vacancies  in  its  delegation. 

4.  Such  Congregational  societies  for  Christian  work 
as  may  be  recognized  by  this  Council,  and  the  faculties 
of  Congregational  theological  seminaries  and  colleges, 
may  be  represented  by  one  delegate  each,  such  represen- 
tatives having  the  right  of  discussion  only. 

III.  Officers. — i.  At  the  beginning  of  every  stated 
or  special  session,  there  shall  be  chosen  by  ballot,  from 
those  present  as  members,  a  moderator,  and  one  or  more 
assistant  moderators,  to  preside  over  its  deliberations. 

2.  At  each  triennial  session  there  shall  be  chosen  by 
a  ballot  a  secretary,  a  registrar,  and  a  treasurer,  to  serve 
from  the  close  of  such  session  to  the  close  of  the  next 
triennial  session. 

3.  The  secretary  shall  receive  communications  for 
the  Council,  conduct  correspondence,  and  collect  such 
facts  and  superintend  such  publications  as  may  from 
time  to  time  be  ordered. 

4.  The  registrar  shall  make  and  preserve  the  records 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Council ;  and  for  his  aid  one  or 
more  assistants  shall  be  chosen  at  each  session,  to  serve 
during  such  session. 

5.  The  treasurer  shall  do  the  work  ordinarily  belong- 
ing to  such  office. 

6.  At  each  triennial  session  there  shall  be  chosen  a 
provisional  committee,  who  shall  make  needful  arrange- 


238  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

ments  for  the  next  triennial  session,  and  for  any  session 
called  during  the  interval. 

7.  Committees  shall  be  appointed,  and  in  such  man- 
ner as  may  from  time  to  time  be  ordered. 

8.  Any  member  of  a  church  in  fellowship  may  be 
chosen  to  the  office  of  secretary,  registrar,  or  treasurer; 
and  such  officers  shall  be  enrolled  as  members  of  the 
Council. 

IV.  By-Laivs. — The  Council  may  make  and  alter  by- 
laws at  any  triennial  session. 

V.  Amendments. — This  Constitution  shall  not  be  al- 
tered or  amended,  except  at  a  triennial  session,  and  by 
a  two-thirds  vote,  notice  thereof  having  been  given  at  a 
previous  triennial  session,  or  the  proposed  alteration 
having  been  requested  by  some  general  State  organiza- 
tion of  churches,  and  published  with  the  notification  of 
the  session. 


DECLARATION  OF  THE  UNITY  OF  THE 
CHURCH 

[Adopted  in  1871] 

The  members  of  the  National  Council,  representing 
the  Congregational  churches  of  the  United  States,  avail 
themselves  of  this  opportunity  to  renew  their  previous 
declarations  of  faith  in  the  unity  of  the  Church  of  God. 

While  affirming  the  liberty  of  our  churches,  as  taught 
in  the  New  Testament,  and  inherited  by  us  from  our 


DECLARATION    OF    UNITY  239 

fathers,  and  from  martyrs  and  confessors  of  foregoing 
ages,  we  adhere  to  this  Hberty  all  the  more  as  affording 
the  ground  and  hope  of  a  more  visible  unity  in  time  to 
come.  We  desire  and  propose  to  cooperate  with  all  the 
churches  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  expression  of  the  same  catholic  sentiments 
solemnly  avowed  by  the  Council  of  1865  on  the  Burial 
Hill  at  Plymouth,  we  wish,  at  this  new  epoch  of  our  his- 
tory, to  remove,  so  far  as  in  us  lies,  all  causes  of  sus- 
picion and  alienation,  and  to  promote  the  growing  unity 
of  counsel  and  of  effort  among  the  followers  of  Christ. 
To  us,  as  to  our  brethren,  "There  is  one  body  and  one 
spirit,  even  as  we  are  called  in  one  hope  of  our  calling." 

As  little  as  did  our  fathers  in  their  day,  do  we  in  ours, 
make  a  pretension  to  be  the  only  churches  of  Christ. 
We  find  ourselves  consulting  and  acting  together  under 
the  distinctive  name  of  Congregationalists,  because  in 
the  present  condition  of  our  common  Christianity  we 
have  felt  ourselves  called  to  ascertain  and  to  do  our  own 
appropriate  part  of  the  work  of  Christ's  Church  among 
men. 

We  especially  desire,  in  prosecuting  the  common  work 
of  evangelizing  our  own  land  and  the  world,  to  observe 
the  common  and  sacred  law,  that,  in  the  wide  field  of  the 
world's  evangelization,  we  do  our  work  in  friendly  co- 
operation with  all  those  who  love  and  serve  our  common 
Lord. 

We  believe  in  "the  holy  catholic  Church."  It  is  our 
prayer  and  endeavor  that  the  unity  of  the  Church  may 


240  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

be  more  and  more  apparent,  and  that  the  prayer  of  our 
Lord  for  his  disciples  may  be  speedily  and  completely 
answered,  and  all  be  one;  that  by  consequence  of  this 
Christian  unity  in  love,  the  world  may  believe  in  Christ 
as  sent  of  the  Father  to  save  the  world. 


BY-LAWS 

I.  In  all  its  official  acts  and  records,  this  body  shall 
be  designated  as  "The  National  Council  of  the  Congre- 
gational Churches  of  the  United  States." 

II.  It  shall  be  understood  that  the  term  for  which 
delegates  to  the  Council  are  appointed  expires  with  each 
session,  triennial  or  special,  to  which  they  are  chosen. 

III.  Statistical  secretaries  of  state  and  territorial 
bodies,  ministers  serving  the  churches  entertaining  the 
Council,  the  retiring  moderator,  and  former  moderators, 
persons  selected  as  preachers,  or  to  prepare  papers  or 
to  serve  upon  committees  chosen  by  this  body,  and  mis- 
sionaries in  the  service  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions  present,  shall  be  entitled 
to  all  the  privileges  of  members  in  the  session  in  which 
they  are  to  serve,  except  that  of  voting. 

IV.  The  term,  "Congregational,"  as  applied  to  the 
general  benevolent  societies,  in  connection  with  repre- 
sentation in  this  body,  is  understood  in  the  broad  sense 
of  societies  whose  constituency  and  control  are  substan- 
tially Congregational. 


BY-LAWS  241 

V.  The  provisional  committee  shall  consist  of  eleven 
persons,  the  moderator,  the  secretary,  the  registrar,  and 
the  treasurer,  ex  oMciis,  and  seven  others  chosen  by  the 
Council,  including  two  members  of  the  last  previous 
committee;  and  four  shall  be  a  quorum. 

They  shall  specify  the  place  and  precise  time  at  which 
each  session  shall  begin;  shall  choose  a  preacher;  may 
select  topics  regarding  the  Christian  work  of  the 
churches,  and  persons  to  prepare  and  present  papers 
thereon;  shall  do  any  work  referred  to  them  by  the  Coun- 
cil; shall  name  a  place  for  the  next  triennial  Council; 
may  fill  any  vacancy  occurring  in  their  own  number  or 
in  any  committee  or  office  in  the  intervals  of  sessions, 
the  persons  so  appointed  to  serve  until  the  next  session ; 
shall  have  authority  to  contract  for  all  necessary  expen- 
ditures except  such  as  are  required  to  be  made  by  the 
publishing  committee,  and  to  appoint  one  of  their  num- 
ber who  shall  approve  and  sign  all  bills  for  payment; 
shall  appoint  any  committees  ordered  but  not  appointed; 
and  committees  so  appointed  shall  be  entered  in  the 
minutes  as  by  the  action  of  the  Council;  shall  consult 
the  interests  of  the  Council  and  act  for  it  in  said  inter- 
vals, subject  to  the  revision  of  the  Council:  and  shall 
make  a  full  report  of  all  their  doings,  the  consideration 
of  which  shall  be  first  in  order  of  business  after  organiza- 
tion. The  provisional  and  publishing  committees  are 
authorized  to  meet  immediately  after  the  close  of  the 
session. 

They  shall  lay  out  a  definite  program  for  the  Council, 


242  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

kssigning  a  distinct  time,  not  to  be  changed  except  in 
special  emergencies,  to 

(i)  The  papers  appointed  to  be  read  before  the  Coun- 
cil. 

(2)  The  standing  and  ad  interim  committees  appointed 
by  one  Council  to  report  at  the  next,  who  may  present 
the  topics  referred  to  them  for  discussion  or  action. 

(3)  The  benevolent  societies  and  theological  semi- 
naries, when  each  society  and  seminary  may  be  heard 
for  a  specified  time,  not  exceeding  twenty  minutes,  by  its 
delegate  to  the  Council. 

All  other  business  shall  be  set  for  other  specified 
hours,  and  shall  not  displace  the  regular  order,  except 
by  special  vote  of  the  Council. 

VI.  The  sessions  shall  ordinarily  be  held  in  the  latter 
part  of  October,  or  the  early  part  of  November. 

VII.  The  call  for  any  session  shall  be  signed  by  the 
chairman  of  the  provisional  committee  and  the  secretary 
-of  the  Council,  and  it  shall  contain  a  list  of  topics  pro- 
posed by  the  committee;  and  the  secretary  shall  season- 
ably furnish  blank  credentials  and  other  needful  papers 
to  the  scribes  of  the  several  local  organizations  of 
churches. 

VIII.  Immediately  after  the  organization  of  the 
Council  the  committee  of  nominations  shall  name  to  the 
body  the  following  committees: — 

1.  A  committee,  including  the  secretary,  on  creden- 
tials, who  shall  prepare  a  roll  of  members. 

2.  And  at  their  convenience  they  shall  name  to  the 


BY-LAWS  243 

Council  a  publishing  committee  of  five,  including  the 
secretary,  registrar  and  treasurer,  who  shall  seek  bids, 
contract  for  and  distribute  all  publications  ordered  by 
the  Council. 

3.  A  business  committee,  to  propose  a  docket  for  the 
use  of  the  members.  Except  by  special  vote  of  the  Coun- 
cil, no  business  shall  be  introduced  which  has  not  thus 
passed  through  the  hands  of  this  committee. 

4.  A  finance  committee. 

Committees  shall  be  composed  of  three  persons  each, 
except  otherwise  ordered.  The  first  named  member  of 
each  standing  or  ad  interim  committee  shall  be  chairman 
thereof,  and  shall  so  continue  unless  the  committee  shall 
otherwise  provide  at  a  meeting  of  which  every  member 
shall  have  been  especially  informed.  Honorary  mem- 
bers shall  be  eligible  to  serve  on  special  committees  at 
the  session;  and  any  member  of  any  Congregational 
church  connected  with  the  Council  shall  be  eligible  to 
appointment  upon  any  committee  to  serve  after  the  close 
of  the  session. 

IX.  In  the  sessions  of  the  National  Council,  half  an 
hour  shall  every  morning  be  given  to  devotional  services, 
and  the  daily  sessions  shall  be  opened  with  prayer,  and 
closed  with  prayer  or  singing.  Every  morning  and 
evening  shall  be  given  to  meetings  of  a  specifically  relig- 
ious rather  than  business  character. 

X.  No  person  shall  occupy  more  than  three  quarters 
of  an  hour  in  reading  any  paper  or  report,  and  no  speaker 
upon  any  motion  or  resolution,  or  any  paper  read,  shall 


244  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

occupy  more  than  ten  minutes,  without  the  unanimous 
consent  of  the  Council. 

XL  An  auditor  of  accounts  shall  be  appointed  at 
every  session. 

XII.  The  Council  approves  of  an  annual  compilation 
of  the  statistics  of  the  churches,  and  of  a  list  of  such  min- 
isters as  are  reported  by  the  several  State  organizations. 
And  the  secretary  is  directed  to  present  at  each  triennial 
session  comprehensive  and  comparative  summaries  for 
the  three  years  preceding. 

XIII.  The  Council,  as  occasion  may  arise,  will  hold 
communication  with  the  general  Congregational  bodies 
of  other  lands,  and  with  the  general  ecclesiastical  or- 
ganizations of  other  churches  of  evangelical  faith  in  our 
own  land,  by  delegates  appointed  by  the  Council  or  by 
the  provisional  committee. 

XIV.  The  presiding  officers  shall  retain  their  offices 
until  their  successors  are  chosen,  and  the  presiding  mod- 
erator at  the  opening  of  the  session  shall  take  the  chair, 
and  the  secretary  shall  at  once  collect  the  credentials  of 
delegates  present,  and  shall  report  the  names  of  persons 
representing  bodies  already  in  affiliation  with  the  Coun- 
cil, who  shall  prima  facie  be  the  constituency  of  the  same, 
for  immediate  organization  and  business.  The  modera- 
tor shall  then  name  the  committee  of  nominations,  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  the  Council,  which  shall  at  once 
proceed  to  the  election  of  its  presiding  officers.  In  the 
absence  of  the  moderator  and  the  assistant  moderators, 
the  provisional  committee  is  authorized  to  appoint  some 


/ 


RULES    OF    ORDER  245 

person  to  act  as  moderator  of  the  opening  session  of  the 
Council. 

XV.  Such  reports  from  committees,  and  statements 
from  societies  or  theological  seminaries  as  may  be  fur- 
nished to  the  secretary  seasonably  in  advance  of  the  ses- 
sion, may  be  printed  at  the  discretion  of  the  publishing 
committee,  and  sent  to  the  members  elect  together  with 
the  program  prepared  by  the  provisional  committee. 
Not  more  than  ten  minutes  shall  be  given  to  the  reading 
of  any  such  report. 

XVI.  Reports  and  statements  shall  not  be  referred  to 
committees  except  by  vote  of  the  Council. 


RULES  OF  ORDER 

The  rules  of  order  shall  be  those  found  in  common 
parliamentary  use,  not  modified  by  local  legislative  prac- 
tice, with  the  following  explicit  modifications: — 

I.  When  a  question  is  under  debate,  no  motion  shall 
be  received,  except  the  following,  namely:  to  amend,  to 
commit,  to  postpone  to  a  time  certain,  to  postpone  in- 
definitely, to  lay  on  the  table,  and  to  adjourn, — which 
shall  have  precedence  in  the  reverse  order  of  this  list, 
the  motions  to  lay  on  the  table  and  to  adjourn  alone  be- 
ing not  debatable.  But  the  Council  at  any  time,  on  the 
motion  of  one  member,  seconded  by  five  other  members, 
and  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  those  present  and  voting, 
may  order  a  vote  to  be  taken  upon  the  pending  question ; 


246  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

after  this  is  so  ordered,  the  debate  shall  not  be  cut  off 
for  one  half  hour,  provided  any  member  desires  to  speak; 
but  during  that  time,  no  speaker  shall  speak  more  than 
five  minutes. 

2.  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  twice  to  the 
merits  of  any  question  in  debate,  except  by  special  per- 
mission of  the  body;  nor  more  than  once,  until  every 
member  desiring  to  speak  shall  have  spoken. 

3.  Ordinarily,  voting  shall  be  viva  voce,  or  by  show 
of  hands;  but  any  member  may  call  for  a  division,  in 
which  case  the  number  voting  on  each  side  shall  be 
counted,  announced  by  the  Chair,  entered  in  the  minutes, 
and  published  in  the  printed  reports  of  the  proceedings. 

4.  If  the  report  of  committee  contains  nothing  more 
than  matters  of  fact  for  information,  or  matters  of  argu- 
ment for  the  consideration  of  the  Council,  the  question 
is:  Shall  the  report  be  accepted f  and  that  question,  unless 
superseded  by  a  motion  to  reject,  to  recommit,  to  post- 
pone, or  to  lay  upon  the  table,  shall  be  taken  without 
debate.  Such  a  report,  if  accepted,  is  placed  upon  the 
files  of  the  Council,  but,  not  being  an  act  of  the  Council, 
is  not  entered  on  the  minutes. 

(a)  If  the  report  is  in  the  form  of  a  vote  or  resolu- 
tion, or  of  a  declaration  expressing  the  judgment  or  tes- 
timony of  the  Council,  the  additional  question  arises: 
Shall  the  report  be  adopted f  and  motions  for  amendment 
are  in  order.  Such  a  report,  if  adopted,  with  or  without 
amendment,  is  the  act  of  the  Council,  and  is  entered  on 
the  minutes. 


CHARTER  247 

(b)  If  a  report  gives  the  views  of  the  committee  on 
the  matter  referred  to  them,  and  terminates  with  the 
form  of  a  resolution  or  declaration  in  the  name  of  the 
Council,  the  questions  are:  Shall  the  report  be  accepted f 
and  Shall  the  resolution  or  declaration  be  adopted  f  and 
while  the  report  at  large,  if  accepted,  is  placed  on  file, 
that  part  of  it  which  has  become  the  act  of  the  Council 
is  entered  on  the  minutes. 


CHARTER  —  TRUSTEES     OF     NATIONAL. 

COUNCIL  , 

The  following  was  adopted  by  the  National  Council, 
1886^:— 

Whereas,  The  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  at  its 
session,  January,  1885,  passed  the  following  act  of  incor- 
poration:— 

"Resolution  incorporating  the  Trustees  of  the  National 
Council  of  the  Congregational  Churches  of  the  United 
States. 

General  Assembly,  January  Session,  A.  D.  1885. 

Resolved  by  this  Assembly, — 

Section  I.  That  Julius  H.  Seelye,  Frederick  A.  Noble, 
Henry  Fairbanks,  William  M.  Taylor,  George  F.  Ma- 
goun,  E.  S.  Jones,  Samuel  B.  Capen,  Henry  A.  Hazen, 
William  H.  Moore,  Lavalette  Perrin,  and  such  other  per- 
sons as  may  be  associated  with  them,  and  their  succes- 

*  Minutes,  page  i8. 


248  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

sews,  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  constituted  a  body  politic 
and  corporate,  under  the  name  of  The  Trustees  of  the 
National  Council  of  the  Congregational  Churches  of  the 
United  States. 

Sect.  2.  The  object  of  the  corporation  is  to  do  and 
promote  charitable  and  Christian  work  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  general  interests  of  the  Congregational 
churches  of  this  country,  in  accordance  with  resolutions 
and  declarations  made  from  time  to  time  by  the  National 
Council  of  the  Congregational  Churches  of  the  United 
States ;  and  said  corporation  may  cooperate  with  any 
other  societies  under  the  charge  and  control  of  churches 
of  the  Congregational  order  in  the  United  States. 

Sect.  J.  Said  corporation  may  acquire,  by  purchase, 
gift,  devise,  or  otherwise,  and  hold  and  dispose  of  real 
and  personal  property  for  the  purpose  of  its  creation,  not 
exceeding  sixty  thousand  dollars  in  value,  and  may  make 
any  contracts  for  promoting  its  objects  and  purposes 
not  inconsistent  with  law. 

Sect.  4.  The  said  National  Council  may  make  rules, 
orders,  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  said  board 
of  Trustees,  and  said  board  shall,  at  all  times,  be  subject 
to  the  direction  and  control  of  said  Council. 

Sect.  5.  The  persons  named  in  the  first  section  of  this 
resolution  shall  be  the  corporators  under  this  charter, 
until  the  appointment  of  Trustees  by  said  National 
Council  at  its  next  regular  meeting,  which  Trustees, 
when  so  appointed,  shall  be  the  successors  of  said  cor- 
porators, with  all  the  powers  conferred  upon  this  corpo- 


CHARTER  249 

ration,  and  said  Council  may  fix  the  number  of  said  Trus- 
tees and  their  terms  of  office,  and  may  provide  for  filling 
vacancies  in  their  number. 

Sect.  6.  This  act  of  incorporation  shall  take  effect 
when  accepted  by  a  majority  of  the  persons  mentioned  in 
Section  i  hereof,  and  by  said  National  Council  at  its  next 
regular  meeting." 

And  whereas.  The  persons  named  as  corporators  have 
unanimously  accepted  the  aforesaid  act; 

Resolved,  That  the  same  be,  and  it  is  hereby,  accepted 
by  this  Council. 

Resolved,  That  this  National  Council,  by  this  act,  con- 
stitutes and  empowers  its  provisional  committee  for  the 
time  being  as  the  Trustees  incorporated  by  the  foregoing 
act,  who  shall  have  in  charge  and  administer  all  moneys 
and  other  values  belonging  to  it,  or  which  may  be  con- 
tributed, bequeathed,  or  intrusted  to  it,  limited  only  by 
their  charter,  the  acts  of  this  Council,  or  the  expressed 
will  of  the  donors. 

Resolved,  That  these  Trustees  shall  hold  office  during 
the  period  of  three  years,  or  until  their  successors  are  ap- 
pointed. They  may  choose  their  own  oflficers;  adopt  all 
needful  rules ;  meet  from  time  to  time,  as  there  is  need ; 
fill  vacancies  in  their  number  occasioned  by  resignation 
or  disability,  during  the  intervals  between  the  regular 
meetings  of  the  Council;  and  adopt  such  measures  to  se- 
cure the  ends  of  their  appointment  as  seem  to  them  ex- 
pedient. Not  less  than  four  members  shall  constitute  a 
quorum  at  their  meetings  for  business,  and  they  shall 


250  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

keep  a  full  record  of  all  such  meetings,  and  report  to  this 
body. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees,  held  at  Memorial  Hall, 
Hartford,  Conn.,  Friday,  Feb.  4,  1887,  the  report  of  the 
committee  appointed  by  the  National  Council,  Messrs. 
Nathaniel  Shipman,  Elisha  Carpenter,  and  Charles  E, 
Mitchell,  of  Connecticut,  "to  prepare  by-laws  for  the 
Trustees  of  the  National  Council,"  was  presented,  ac- 
cepted, and,  after  amendment,  adopted  as  follows : — 

BY-LAWS 

1.  The  officers  of  the  corporation  shall  be  a  presi- 
dent, vice-president,  eleven  directors,  or  such  other 
members  as  may  constitute  for  the  time  being,  the  pro- 
visional committee  of  the  National  Council,  also  a  secre- 
tary, treasurer,  auditor,  and  a  finance  committee  of  five 
persons,  of  whom  the  secretary  and  treasurer,  if  mem- 
bers of  the  corporation,  shall  be  members  ex  officio. 

All  these  officers  shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  and  shall 
hold  their  respective  offices  for  the  term  of  three  years, 
unless  removed  by  death,  disability,  or  resignation ;  that 
is  to  say,  from  the  time  of  their  election  until  the  first 
meeting  of  the  new  Trustees  appointed  from  time  to 
time  by  the  National  Council  at  its  triennial  meetings. 

All  officers,  except  secretary,  treasurer,  and  auditor, 
shall  be  members  of  the  corporation. 

2.  The  duty  of  the  president  shall  be  to  preside  at  the 
meetings  of  the  corporation  and  of  the  directors ;  to  ex- 
ercise a  general  oversight  of  the  affairs  of  the  corpora- 


BY-LAWS    OF    THE    TRUSTEES        251 

tion ;  to  execute  the  instructions  of  the  directors,  and  to 
make  such  suggestions  to  them  as  he  may  deem  desir- 
able. 

3.  The  vice-president  shall  discharge  the  duties  of 
the  president  in  the  absence  of  that  officer. 

4.  The  directors,  of  whom  not  less  than  four  shall 
constitute  a  quorum,  shall  have  the  control,  direction, 
and  management  of  the  property  and  afifairs  of  the  cor- 
poration ;  shall  regulate  salaries ;  shall  make  rules  in  re- 
gard to  the  disbursement  of  money;  shall  accept  devises, 
legacies,  and  gifts  upon  the  trusts  respectively  annexed 
to  them;  shall  buy,  sell,  and  convey  by  their  attorney 
appointed  for  that  purpose  all  real  and  personal  prop- 
erty; shall  fill  vacancies  in  their  own  number  and  in  all 
offices,  the  appointments  so  made  to  be  in  accordance 
with  By-Law  i,  and  to  continue  until  the  next  meeting 
of  tlie  corporation;  and  shall  report  to  the  National 
Council. 

5.  The  secretary  shall  keep  the  records  of  the  cor- 
poration, of  the  directors,  and  of  the  finance  committee; 
shall  conduct  the  correspondence  of  the  society;  shall 
any  meeting  of  either  body,  which  notices  shall  be  sent 
by  mail,  postage  paid,  at  least  ten  days  before  the  date 
of  the  meetings;  shall  preserve  all  important  documents; 
shall  conduct  the  correspondence  of  the  society;  shall 
report  annually  to  the  directors,  and  prepare  a  report  to 
the  National  Council  for  the  directors. 

6.  The  treasurer  shall  invest  the  funds  of  the  corpora- 
tion in  accordance  with  the  directions  of  the  directors,  or, 


252  THE    NATIONAL    COUNCIL 

in  the  absence  of  such  directions,  in  accordance  with  the 
written  approval  of  the  finance  committee ;  shall  have  the 
custody  of  such  funds ;  shall  disburse  the  same,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  rules  and  votes  of  the  directors ;  shall  keep 
accurate  accounts  of  his  receipts  and  expenditures,  and 
shall  make  an  annual  report  to  the  directors. 

He  shall  give  bonds  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his 
trust  for  the  term  of  three  years,  and  until  another  person 
is  appointed  treasurer,  in  such  sum  as  may  be  ordered 
from  time  to  time  by  the  directors. 

7.  The  auditor  shall  annually,  or  oftener,  in  his  dis- 
cretion, personally  audit  and  examine  the  securities  be- 
longing to  the  corporation  and  the  accounts  and 
vouchers  of  the  treasurer,  and  shall  report  annually  to 
the  directors. 

8.  The  finance  committee  shall  meet  at  least  an- 
nually, and  more  frequently  if  deemed  by  them  advis- 
able; shall  make  investments  and  reinvestments,  subject 
to  the  approval  of  the  directors;  shall  authorize  all  dis- 
bursements not  specially  ordered  by  the  directors  or  by 
their  rules;  shall  provide  methods  for  the  enlargement 
of  the  funds  of  the  corporation  ;  and  shall  have  the  imme- 
diate and  direct  management  and  oversight  of  the  funds 
and  financial  affairs  of  the  corporation  in  the  intervals 
between  the  meetings  of  the  directors,  to  whom  they 
shall  report  annually. 

Special  meetings  shall  be  held  at  the  time  and  place 
named  in  the  call  of  the  chairman. 

9.  Other  officers  and  committees  may  be  appointed 


BY-LAWS    OF    THE    TRUSTEES         253 

as  the  needs  of  the  corporation  may  demand,  and,  in  the 
intervals  between  the  meetings  of  the  corporation,  may 
be  appointed  by  the  directors. 

10.  A  meeting  of  the  corporation  shall  be  held  within 
ninety  days  after  the  adjournment  o£  the  National  Coun- 
cil, in  the  city  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  where  all  meet- 
ings of  this  corporation  shall  be  held,  at  which  the  offi- 
cers for  the  ensuing  three  years  shall  be  chosen. 

Annual  meetings  of  the  directors,  for  the  examination 
of  accounts,  of  the  reports  of  the  treasurer,  secretary, 
auditor,  and  finance  committee,  for  the  allotment  and 
distribution  of  income  and  for  the  general  work  of  the 
corporation,  shall  be  held  in  the  month  of  September  in 
each  year,  at  such  places  as  the  finance  committee  pre- 
viously to  each  meeting  shall  designate. 

Special  meetings  of  the  corporation  and  of  the  direc- 
tors shall  be  held  upon  the  written  call  of  the  president 
or  of  any  two  members  of  the  corporation  addressed  to 
the  president.  Such  special  meetings  of  the  directors 
shall  be  held  at  the  place  directed  by  the  president. 

The  secretary  shall  be  always  a  resident  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  and  the  records,  when  not  in  use  in  the 
meetings,  shall  be  kept  always  in  that  State. 

11.  Any  article  of  these  by-laws  may  be  changed  or 
amended  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  of  the  cor- 
poration present  at  any  meeting  after  the  service  of  one 
month's  notice  in  writing  of  the  proposed  change. 


Date  Due 

^..^-^ 

f) 

PRINTED 

IN  U.  S.  A. 

